Ukraine extends martial law and general mobilization

A bill to extend martial law and general mobilization in Ukraine for 90 days is being prepared for submission to the Verkhovna Rada. If passed, parliamentary elections scheduled for October would be canceled.

“In the coming days, the parliament will extend martial law and general mobilization. Most likely, the extension will be for another 90 days, that is, until November 15, 2023,” said Verkhovna Rada deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak.

Currently, martial law and general mobilization will expire on August 18.

However, the extension would prevent the Ukrainian parliamentary elections in the fall, which cannot be held under martial law, according to the constitution. Furthermore, if the extension is extended for another 90 days after November 15, the presidential election would also not be possible. Although the presidential election will in fact be held in March 2024, the campaign will not be able to start as planned.

Discussions about the possibility of canceling parliamentary and presidential elections have been taking place in Ukraine for some time now. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that presidential elections can only take place after the end of the fighting.

According to the spokesman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, according to Ukrainian law, no elections can be held during martial law. Therefore, it must be held immediately after the end of martial law.

Meanwhile, Kiev's Western allies have consistently insisted that Ukraine hold the vote within the stipulated time. The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Tiny Cox, said that the Ukrainian government must find a way to hold parliamentary and presidential elections on time.

Martial law came into effect in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and has been extended several times. Most recently, it was extended on May 2 for another 90 days, until August 18.