Ukraine Enshrines Daily 9 a.m. Minute of Silence in Law
A newly signed law establishes a nationwide daily tribute to those killed during Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It also formalizes Holodomor commemorations and sets rules for public notification systems.
Ukraine has given permanent legal status to a daily nationwide minute of silence at 9 a.m., turning an established wartime act of remembrance into a state-backed commemorative practice. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Law No. 4783-IX after its adoption by parliament, according to the Verkhovna Rada’s press service.
The observance honors service members and volunteer fighters who died defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also encompasses medical workers, police officers, emergency responders, journalists, volunteers and civilians killed as a result of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression.
National and local authorities will be responsible for notifying the public when the minute begins and ends. Government-supervised enterprises and institutions must also receive the relevant announcements, while municipalities are tasked with organizing communication within their communities.
The legislation allows broadcasters and other media outlets, regardless of ownership, to carry the announcement. Civil protection warning and public information systems may also be used for commemorative purposes, with the Cabinet of Ministers required to determine the practical rules governing their use.
The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory will prepare official recommendations for public bodies, businesses, institutions, civic organizations and other participants. The framework is intended to make the observance consistent nationwide while allowing communities and organizations to incorporate it into their daily routines.
The law additionally codifies annual remembrance for the victims of the 1932–1933 Holodomor. On the fourth Saturday of November, a nationwide minute of silence will be held at 4 p.m., followed by the Ukrainian candle-lighting campaign known as “Light a Candle.” Local authorities will assist with the event and ensure that residents are informed.
Related amendments affect Ukraine’s Civil Protection Code and legislation governing national memory and security policy. The government has three months from the law’s entry into force to align its regulations and ensure that ministries and executive authorities update their own rules.
The measure takes effect on the day following its official publication. By establishing a common time of remembrance, lawmakers aim to preserve the names and stories behind Ukraine’s losses and reinforce a shared public expression of gratitude to those whose lives were taken by the war.