Ukraine reinstates the running of statue of limitations

On 4 September 2025, Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Section “Final and Transitional Provisions” of the Civil Code of Ukraine Concerning Renewal of the Limitation Period” No. 4434-IX (“Law”), will enter into force.

The Law provides for the resumption of the running of the statute of limitations, which was suspended during the early stages of martial law.

The running of statute of limitations in Ukraine was suspended as of 2 April 2020, initially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and then due to the introduction of martial law on 17 March 2022.

The statute of limitations will resume on 4 September 2025. However, limitation periods will not be reset but will continue from the point at which they were suspended. If the statute of limitations had already expired before the suspension, it will not be reinstated.

For example, if the statute of limitations (three years) began on 6 December 2019, then 118 days had passed by the time it was suspended on 2 April 2020. The period was suspended, initially due to the quarantine, and later because of the war. Starting from 4 September 2025, the countdown will resume from the 119th day and will continue for another 977 days. In this case, the statute of limitations will expire on 7 May 2028.

We advise reassessing any planned claims or litigation activities given the resumption of the running of the statute of limitations.

Additional notes

This legal alert is issued to inform AVELLUM clients and other interested parties of legal developments that may affect or otherwise be of interest to them. The information above does not constitute legal or other advice and should not be regarded as a substitute for specific advice in individual cases.

For further information on the Law and other issues related to the statute of limitations in Ukraine, please contact senior partner Kostiantyn Likarchuk and partner Vadim Medvedev.