The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will consider, at first reading, Draft Law of Ukraine No. 14405 “On Ensuring the Legitimacy of Local Councils under Martial Law”.

The adoption of the draft law will ensure the stable and proper functioning of local governments, especially when problems with quorum arise due to the early termination of the terms of office of individual councillors.

Why has the need arisen to adopt this draft law?

Due to a number of reasons (including the mobilisation of councillors, the early termination of their terms of office, and the impossibility of holding local elections during martial law), the functioning of some local councils of communities is currently complicated or even impossible.

In particular, in 2025, not a single plenary session was held in 211 village, settlement, and city councils (this represents 14.6% of their total number).

As of 1 February 2026, there were nearly 3,500 vacant councillor seats in village, settlement, and city councils (around 10% of their total number).

Of these, 5.5% of village, settlement, and city councils lack a quorum, whilst a further 3% have a critically low number of councillors.

‘I call on MPs to support the draft law at first reading. I also call on community leaders to engage with the MPs in their constituencies and explain the importance of this decision. If MPs still have reservations about certain provisions, we are willing to work through them prior to the second reading. The draft law has already been refined by the Committee. Its adoption will enable local governments to take the decisions their communities need. This is an important step towards regulating their work under martial law. It is essential that the draft law contains only those provisions that will help local self-government to function effectively under martial law,’ stressed Vitalii Bezgin, Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons.

What the draft law will change

The draft law establishes temporary provisions for the functioning of local councils of communities throughout the period of martial law and for six months following its termination or repeal.

In particular, it provides for:

• to ensure that the council of the community continues to function, provided that at least half of its council members remain;
• if the council consists of fewer than half of its elected members, provision is made for the establishment of a military administration of the locality;
• to simplify the convening of council sessions of the community – a session may be convened at the request of at least one-third of the councillors;
• to stipulate that a plenary meeting is quorate if more than half of the councillors of the Council participate in it;
• a Council decision shall be deemed adopted if a majority of the councillors vote in favour of it. In this case, the vote of the community leader shall be counted if they participate in the meeting;
• the community leader shall have the right to suspend a Council decision for 5 days and refer it back for reconsideration. If the council reconfirms the decision by two-thirds of the votes, it shall come into force.
• provision for the early termination of the powers of a village, settlement, or city mayor by a decision of the Council, provided there are relevant legal grounds and the decision is supported by two-thirds of the councillors by secret ballot.

Moreover, in line with the draft law, certain legislative requirements will not apply to called-up councillors, for example, those relating to participation in the work of the council and committee meetings.

Additionally, in the event of security risks, the local council of a community will be able to independently determine the form and method of councillors’ reporting and the publication of their reports (for example, a written or online report instead of an in-person report, etc.).

More details on the draft law are available via the link.