Will Ukraine switch to daylight saving time in 2025: what do you need to know?

Back in 2024, the Ukrainian parliament voted in favour of a bill that would have established winter time (GMT+2) as the only time throughout the year. Find out whether Ukraine will change the clocks this year

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For several years now, Ukraine has been discussing the abolition of seasonal time changes. In 2024, the Verkhovna Rada voted in favour of draft law No. 4201, which was supposed to establish winter time (GMT+2) as the only time throughout the year. Thus, the last time the clocks were to be switched to winter time was in November 2024, and further switches were to be cancelled completely.

However, in order for this law to really come into force, it must be signed by the head of state. At the time of writing, the president had not signed the document, and the time for a possible veto had also passed. This means that if no formalities are completed by the last Sunday of March 2025, the seasonal change of clocks will take place according to the usual rules.

When is daylight saving time in 2025?

Traditionally, in Ukraine, daylight saving time is set on the last Sunday of March. In 2025, it will be 30 March. Typically, the clocks need to be reset at 3:00, moving them forward one hour - that is, to 4:00.

In fact, on the night of 29-30 March, we will sleep one hour less, and in the morning, sunlight will appear later. But at the same time, the afternoon will be ‘longer’: the sunset will also occur an hour later.

What this means for gadgets and schedules

Automatic updates: Most modern smartphones, computers, and smartwatches set their time automatically. Make sure that ‘automatic time and time zone detection’ is selected in your device's settings.

Mechanical watches: Analogue clocks and older electronic devices (such as push-button phones without automatic time updates) will need to be set manually.

Timetables and tickets: All current transport timetables and e-tickets already take into account the possible daylight saving time. It is important to simply remember the fact that the clocks are changing to avoid being late for a train, plane, or important meeting.

Can daylight saving time be cancelled?

Despite the fact that the Verkhovna Rada has already approved a bill to cancel seasonal time change, it will not legally come into force without the president's signature.

At the moment:

1. Bill No. 4201 has been passed but not signed by the President.

2. The time for a possible veto has passed, but the document is effectively ‘stuck’ without implementation.

3. If the president does sign it by the last Sunday of March 2025, daylight saving time may be cancelled.

But until that happens, we have to rely on the current regulations: On 30 March 2025, at 3:00 a.m., we will move the clocks forward by 1 hour.

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When do clocks change in the EU?

As you know, daylight saving time, which is attributed to Benjamin Franklin, is explained by saving electricity by changing the daylight hours. At the same time, modern research confirms the negative impact of daylight saving time and vice versa on human health.

Nevertheless, European countries and the United States have not yet abandoned the practice of changing clocks.

The European Union decided to stay on winter time a few years ago: In 2019, the European Parliament supported the cancellation of the annual time change in 2021.

But the reform was never implemented due to a lack of unity between the European Commission and EU member states. Some of them demanded that the European Commission first conduct an expert study of the advantages and disadvantages of the reform. The EU executive body, however, did not agree.

Which countries do not change their clocks?

There are many countries in the world that have either never practised seasonal time-saving or have cancelled it earlier. Among the most famous are:

▪️ Japan - does not practice daylight saving time.

▪️ China - abandoned daylight saving time at the end of 1991.

▪️ India - always uses a single time zone (IST, UTC+5:30).

▪️ Singapore - has been on a fixed time (UTC+8) since 1982.

▪️ Iceland - despite its geographical proximity to European countries, it does not change its time.

▪️ Belarus and Russia - abandoned seasonal daylight saving time in the early 2010s and set constant time in their regions.

▪️ Turkey - since 2016, it has been living on ‘summer’ UTC+3 all the time, without going back.

Each country, when deciding to abandon seasonal daylight saving time, is guided by a number of factors: geographical location, economic considerations, energy calculations, and sometimes public opinion.

We remind you! Lent has begun in Ukraine and will last until Easter. We told you why Lent is necessary and what rules you need to follow.

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