Curfew, but different: five Ukrainian regions shorten night-time restrictions, Kharkiv keeps its regime unchanged for now

Following the Ukrainian government's recommendation to reconsider the approach to regulating the curfew, several oblasts have already moved to a shortened schedule of night-time restrictions. According to RBC-Ukraine, in Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, Kirovohrad Oblast and Poltava Oblast the curfew now runs from 01:00 to 05:00, while in Chernivtsi Oblast it runs from 01:00 to 04:00. At the same time, in a number of regions, in particular Kharkiv Oblast, the existing regime has been kept unchanged for now. Decisions on the new time frames are made at the level of the oblast councils of defence, taking into account the operational situation in each specific region.

Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast: synchronizing the regime with the capital

In Kyiv, from 10 September 2026, the curfew continues in the format of 01:00 to 05:00, which has allowed public transport to keep operating during the night hours. Kyiv Oblast has synchronized its regime with the capital: from 10 September the restrictions also run from 01:00 to 05:00. The oblast administration explained the decision as a necessity to adapt the work of authorities, businesses and critical infrastructure to the constant Russian shelling, as well as to ensure a unified approach in the capital region.

Kirovohrad, Poltava and Chernivtsi Oblasts: starting from 11 September

In Kirovohrad Oblast, from 11 September the curfew will run from 01:00 to 05:00, announced the head of the oblast state administration, Andrii Raikovich. He emphasized that shortening the time frames does not mean the automatic resumption of operations of food service establishments, entertainment venues and shopping and entertainment centers — their operating schedules remain unchanged. In Poltava Oblast, the head of the ODA, Vitalii Diakovnych, confirmed that the oblast council of defence adopted a similar decision: the curfew runs from 01:00 to 05:00. In Chernivtsi Oblast, from 11 September the night-time restrictions were shortened to three hours — from 01:00 to 04:00 (previously the regime ran from 23:00 to 04:00). In Bukovyna, the procedure for the movement of workers of enterprises that ensure the region's life-sustaining activities during the curfew was also approved: they require special passes.

Kharkiv Oblast: regime not yet changed

In Kharkiv Oblast the curfew continues to apply in its previous format — from 00:00 to 05:00. The head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Oleksii Synehubov, stated that there are currently no plans to change the existing regime. At the same time, the mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, previously reported that the city authorities are exploring the possibility of shortening the curfew in order to give local businesses additional hours of operation and to ensure the functioning of public transport. The final decision, according to him, must be made by the Kharkiv Oblast Council of Defence.

Sumy Oblast: a temporary measure for farmers

A separate case is Sumy Oblast, where the curfew has been temporarily shortened from 1 July to 15 September 2026 — during this period it runs from 00:00 to 04:00. The decision was made, in particular, at the suggestion of the agricultural sector: an additional morning hour was needed for seasonal field work. The head of the Sumy ODA, Oleksii Hryhorov, noted at the same time that in frontline communities the duration of the curfew may be adjusted depending on the operational situation.

Contradictory data

The provided sources record a number of inconsistencies and nuances that require attention. First, the dates on which the new regimes take effect differ: in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast the shortened schedule has been in force since 10 September, whereas in Kirovohrad and Chernivtsi Oblasts — since 11 September. This creates a one-day time gap between neighboring regions. Second, regarding Kharkiv Oblast, the positions of the city and oblast authorities currently diverge: the mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, publicly stated that the shortening of the curfew is being explored, however the head of the ODA, Oleksii Synehubov, reported that there are no plans to change the regime. The final decision rests with the oblast council of defence, and as of the time of publication it has not been made. Third, in Sumy Oblast a temporary regime is in force with a clear end date — 15 September 2026 — after which, in the absence of a new decision, a return to the previous schedule is possible. In addition, the source delo.ua points to a link between the flexible regulation of the curfew and the period of the energy crisis, which adds context: the shortening of night-time restrictions may be related not only to security but also to the need to relieve the power grid during the dark hours of the day.

Context: the president's position

The initiative to reconsider the approach to the curfew was voiced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stated that the changes should take into account the prolonged air-raid alerts, the new tactics of Russian attacks, as well as the needs of citizens and businesses. At the same time, he emphasized that the decision on the time frames of the curfew is made at the regional level, taking into account the specific security situation. Thus, there is no single nationwide schedule: each oblast determines its own regime, and in the coming weeks further adjustments are possible as the operational situation changes.