Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, requesting an extension of martial law and general mobilization for another 90 days, pushing the current state of emergency past its scheduled expiration in August.
Martial law and mobilization were first enacted on February 24, 2022, the day Russia launched its Special Military Operation. Since then, Zelensky has repeatedly renewed these powers, with the Rada approving every request—except in February 2024, when the extension failed on the first vote before passing on a second attempt.
Zelensky’s five-year constitutional term as president expired in May 2024. However, citing the ongoing state of martial law, he has not held new elections. This use of emergency powers has become the legal basis for remaining in office beyond his original term, drawing increasing criticism from political opponents and international observers.
Martial law has allowed Zelensky to wield sweeping authority over Ukrainian society. Under these provisions, the government has consolidated media outlets into a single state-run broadcaster, banned opposition parties, restricted public protests, and enforced military conscription policies that critics say have grown increasingly coercive.
One of the most controversial aspects of the ongoing emergency powers is the blanket prohibition on men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. Numerous reports have documented instances of forced conscription, with videos surfacing of men being detained on the streets and conscripted against their will.
Critics argue that Zelensky’s administration fears that lifting martial law would not only lead to electoral defeat but also trigger a mass exodus of the population—including many active-duty soldiers—undermining the viability of the Ukrainian government itself.
Prominent opposition figures such as former President Petro Poroshenko have publicly voiced concerns over the continuation of emergency rule. International watchdogs and even some Western media outlets have recently highlighted the growing authoritarian tendencies in Kiev’s wartime governance.