The law to abolish seasonal time changes has not yet entered into force
On the night of October 25, 2026, Ukraine will again switch to winter time in accordance with the current timekeeping procedures. At 04:00, clocks will be set back by one hour to 03:00. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Тетяна Веремєєва), according to the portal PromPolitInform.
According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 509 dated May 13, 1996, the seasonal transition in Ukraine is carried out on the last Sunday of October. This year, the date falls on October 25, so the time change will occur in the night from Saturday to Sunday.
Automatic device updates
Most modern electronic devices, such as smartphones and computers, perform the switch to winter time automatically without user intervention. Owners of mechanical or older electronic watches will have to adjust the time manually after 04:00 Kyiv time.
Status of draft law No. 4201
Despite the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopting draft law No. 4201 in July 2024, which provided for establishing winter time as permanent, the document has not become a binding legal act. Since the law was not signed by the president, the traditional procedure of setting the clocks remains mandatory.
Prospects for abolishing seasonal time
At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest that the upcoming autumn transition will be the last in the country’s history. Discussions surrounding the abolition of seasonal time changes have been ongoing for years, based on assessments of the procedure’s impact on public health and human biological rhythms.
Regional factors and European experience
An important factor in this issue remains the country’s geographic expanse, which directly affects the duration of daylight hours in different parts of Ukraine. A similar situation is observed in European Union countries, where the decision to abolish seasonal time, supported by the European Parliament in 2019, has not yet been implemented in practice.
Photo: RBC-Ukraine
