Discussion to abandon DST is on in Ukraine

Ukraine's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has proposed ending daylight saving time (DST) in the country.

"Currently, we have the following procedure for time calculating in Ukraine: the second time zone (Kyiv time) with adjusting clocks forward one hour on the last Sunday in March at 3 a.m. and adjusting clocks backward one hour on the last Sunday in October at 4 a.m. The bill provides for introducing the second time zone (Kyiv time) without adjusting clocks on the territory of Ukraine," says the bill.

"The introduction of this order for time calculation is aimed at improving the health of citizens, increasing of the public's ability to work and reducing the number of accidents," reads the document.

The bill proposes that the new rule take effect on 1 March 2013.

The ministry has opened a public discussion about ending DST, and citizens can send in their proposals.

"The document is available on the Web site of the ministry in order to hold public hearings, and everybody can participate in this process, read the document, and put forward proposals. The ministry will summarize all of these proposals," said Anatoliy Maksiuta, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

If the government adopts the bill, Ukraine will keep winter time in summer too. Then, in summer, Ukraine will have the same time as Central Europe.

Correction, 26 October 2026: The picture's caption said "Maiden Square, Kiev, Ukraine". The picture shows the Motherland Monument in Kyiv.^[1]

Update, 26 October 2026: The 2013 bill never became law, and Kyiv still changes its clocks with the EU;^[2] in 2026 they went back on 25 October 2026. In July 2024 the parliament voted to stay on winter time all year,^[3] but the President has not signed the law, so it has not taken effect.^[4] See also: Ukraine is planning to follow standard time also during summers (2012).