Resumption of the Statute of Limitations: Changes for Businesses and Citizens Introduced by Law No. 4434

From September 4, 2025, the standard procedure for calculating statute of limitations will again apply in Ukraine due to the entry into force of Law of Ukraine No. 4434-IX, which repeals the provisions of the Civil Code of Ukraine on the suspension of the running of such periods for the period of martial law.

The rule on the “freezing” of a statute of limitations has been in effect since the quarantine restrictions and was extended after the start of the full-scale war. It meant that even if the period for filing a claim was supposed to expire, for instance, in 2024, it was not considered missed until the end of martial law. This gave the parties additional time to resolve disputes, but from September 2025 this opportunity is removed.

Return to usual rules means that all “frozen” periods will start to expire again. Therefore, businesses and citizens should check their legal relationships now, including property, inheritance and debt disputes, as well as claims under agreements and contracts. It is necessary to recalculate the terms taking into account the suspension period and the new resumption date, assess the risks of omission and, if necessary, prepare documents for filing claims. Delay in this situation directly increases the likelihood of losing the right to judicial protection.

As a reminder, the general statute of limitations in Ukraine is three years. Certain categories of cases have special periods: one year for claims for the collection of fines or penalties or for refuting inaccurate information, and four years for claims for the recognition of assets as unfounded and their recovery into state revenue. The period may be extended by agreement of the parties in a written agreement, but may not be shorter than provided for by law. The statute of  limitations begins from the moment when the person learned or could have learned about the violation of their right and about the identity of the violator. If the other party to the dispute declares that the time limit has expired, this will serve as the grounds for refusing the claim, although in the case of good reasons the exemption may be renewed by the court.

Thus, from September 4, 2025, thousands of potential cases will again be placed within the time limits of the statute of limitations. Anyone who does not have time to go to court in a timely manner risks losing the chance to restore their rights. Checking agreements, contracts and the status of current and potential disputes now is the best way to avoid procedural losses in the future.