Ukraine's Winter Time Transition
Ukraine will move to winter time on October 25, 2026. This follows the passage of Law No. 4201, which aims to end the seasonal clock changes. The bill was approved by the Verkhovna Rada in its second reading on July 16, 2024, with 261 lawmakers voting in favor. Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk authored the legislation. After adoption, the document was sent to the president for signature on August 21, 2024, but Volodymyr Zelenskyy has neither signed nor vetoed it.
More than 21 months have passed since the law was approved, yet Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 509 from May 13, 1996, remains in effect. Ukrainians last adjusted their clocks on March 29, 2025. Around 80% of citizens support ending seasonal time shifts, according to 2025 opinion polls. Research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the switch to daylight saving time can raise heart attack risk by 24% on the Monday following the change, increase stroke risk by 8–10%, and boost traffic accidents by 6%.
The Law's Place in Society
Ruslan Stefanchuk stated that he
“sees no reason not to sign this law”and noted that
“the electricity savings from seasonal clock changes are completely insignificant.”However, according to a source from the 'Servant of the People' faction, the speaker 'pushed this through—it was his idea—so to avoid offending him, there will be no veto, but also no signature.'
The European Union decided to abandon seasonal clock changes in 2019. Globally, about 70 countries still practice seasonal time shifts, while roughly 140 have either dropped the practice or never adopted it.
The push to end seasonal clock changes in Ukraine, backed by a large majority of the population, mirrors a worldwide trend already implemented in other regions, including the European Union. Evidence of the negative health effects from time shifts further underscores the relevance of this decision for improving citizens' quality of life.