Ukraine to extend martial law by three months – MP

Yaroslav Zheleznyak has claimed presidential elections can be held in November at the earliest if this proves to be the last such extension.

Ukraine’s parliament will extend martial law by another 90 days early next week, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak has claimed. He further suggested that given this prospect, it is unrealistic to expect presidential elections in the coming months.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s presidential term expired last May but he has refused to hold a vote, citing martial law. As a result, the Kremlin has deemed the Ukrainian leader illegitimate.

In a video published on YouTube on Saturday, Zheleznyak said that there is currently a lot of speculation as to whether the Verkhovna Rada will prolong martial law, especially in light of claims that a ceasefire with Russia could be within reach or that elections could be held in Ukraine soon.

“Yes, [martial law and the general mobilization] will be extended, and this will happen pretty soon: April 15-18,” the lawmaker from the Holos (Voice) party alleged.

He explained that the 90 days are counted starting from the end of the previous extension, as opposed to when the parliament ratifies the decision. According to Zheleznyak, this means that the next three months of martial law in Ukraine will start on May 9 and last until August 6.

The lawmaker pointed out that “it is impossible, for example, to end martial law on August 6, and immediately hold elections on August 24,” since under Ukrainian law, they must be preceded by at least 60 and 90 days of preparatory processes for parliamentary and presidential votes, respectively.

Ukrainian parliament Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk has confirmed that the country’s lawmakers are almost certain to extend martial law before it expires on May 9. However, he also “stressed Ukraine’s commitment to democratic elections,” Reuters wrote on Friday.

Speaking to Ukrainian media last week, David Arakhamia, the head of Zelensky’s ruling Servant of the People party in parliament, dismissed reports that Kiev was preparing to hold a snap vote to catch the opposition off guard.

”All parliamentary parties and groups have agreed that elections should be held six months after the lifting of martial law,” the lawmaker insisted.

Following the escalation of the conflict with Russia in February 2022, Ukraine imposed martial law and declared a general mobilization, barring able-bodied men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. Both have been repeatedly extended since.

In response to the mobilization drive being marred by corruption and draft dodging, the Ukrainian government lowered the conscription age to 25 and introduced stricter penalties for draft evasion and desertion last year.

Faced with severe troop shortages, Ukrainian enlistment officers have adopted increasingly draconian methods to fill the ranks, detaining random men in public, often violently, and transporting them straight to enlistment centers, as evidenced by multiple eyewitness videos circulating online.