Important changes regarding the critical status of enterprises and the associated employee reservation are coming into force in Ukraine. Lawyers warn: decisions made earlier have a clear expiration date, and after September 1, 2026, the situation for many employers and employees may change.

Validity periods of decisions on criticality

As reported by lawyer Nikolai Sirenko of the law firm "Prykhodko & Partners" in a comment to RBC-Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers has established a transition period. According to the resolution, decisions on the criticality of enterprises that were in effect on June 2, 2026, retain their legal force, but only until a certain date.

The main deadline is September 1, 2026. It is until this date that decisions on criticality made under the old rules remain in force. After this date, they cease to operate automatically unless extended or confirmed in accordance with new criteria.

Dependence of reservation on company status

The key point that the lawyer highlights is the direct dependence of reservation on the enterprise status. An employee's reservation cannot exist independently of the status of the company where they work. If the decision on the criticality of the enterprise loses its force, then the reservation issued on its basis also ceases to operate.

However, Sirenko clarifies an important nuance: changing or updating criticality criteria does not mean the instant and automatic termination of status. If the competent authority has not issued a separate document cancelling the decision, the reservation remains in force until the end of summer 2026.

Who will not lose the reservation automatically

The September 1 deadline restriction does not apply to all categories of workers. There are groups for whom automatic cancellation of the reservation is not a threat. These include:

  • Employees whose enterprises will be reviewed and confirmed under the new criteria.
  • Employees whose status is protected by separate regulatory acts.
  • Categories that will be determined during the review of the list of critical enterprises.

Review of the status of all enterprises

Recall that earlier the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine decided to update the criteria for granting enterprises critical status. This means that the status of absolutely all enterprises that were previously recognized as critical will be reviewed.

The authorities intend to bring the list of critical objects in line with the current needs of the state and economy. In this regard, employers and employees are advised to closely monitor changes in legislation and update documents confirming their status in a timely manner.