Ukraine Lawmakers Vote 293-0 to Extend Martial Law Through January

Ukraine's parliament voted on Monday to extend martial law and general mobilization by 90 days.

The Verkhovna Rada approved the extension of martial law with 293 votes and general mobilization with 281 votes during a plenary session broadcast on October 26. A separate vote of 280 lawmakers authorized the parliament's chairman to sign the bills immediately and forward them to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his signature. Current rules keep both measures in effect until 05:30 on October 31, 2026. Zelenskyy's proposal would carry them through January 29, 2027.

Zelenskyy has said the restrictions cannot end before the war with Russia concludes on terms that protect Ukraine. In December 2025, he said the conflict would not be finished until Kyiv holds firm security guarantees, and that martial law must continue until that point. Asked then whether martial law could end during a ceasefire, he replied: "First of all, we all want the war to end, and only then will martial law be lifted, and that is the only way. Martial law will be lifted at the moment when Ukraine has security guarantees." He added: "Without security guarantees, this war will not truly end; we will not be able to recognize that it has ended, because there would remain a risk of renewed aggression from such a neighbor."

Martial law and mobilization have run without pause across Ukraine since February 24, 2022, when Russia began its full-scale invasion. The previous extension covered August 2 through October 31, 2026, and Monday's vote marks the latest in a series of renewals. The measures would remain active until January 29, 2027, if Zelenskyy signs the legislation.

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