Ukraine’s parliament has voted to extend martial law and military mobilisation for another three months.
This decision means the wartime measures will be in place until at least August 6.
Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak revealed that the extension of martial law was passed by a 357-1 vote. A measure to maintain troop mobilisation was approved by 356-1.
Ukraine’s constitution stipulates that elections cannot be conducted during martial law.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin had in the past questioned the legitimacy of his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky’s five-year term was initially due to end in May 2024.
Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, reacting to the martial law extension, claimed Kyiv was trying to “preserve its unstable structure”.
In February this year, US President Donald Trump called Zelensky a “dictator without elections”.
Trump’s comments led Ukrainians to rally around their leader, boosting Zelensky’s approval ratings.
