August 2026 will be the month when the lives of millions of Ukrainians will undergo changes in several areas at once—from mobilization rules and pension eligibility to utility bills, subsidies, tax reporting, and social benefits. What exactly will change, and what should Ukrainians start preparing for now? Read more in this UA.News article.
Martial Law and Mobilization: Twentieth Extension Through October 31
Perhaps the most significant news of August is that martial law and general mobilization in Ukraine have been extended for another 90 days. President Zelenskyy submitted the relevant bills to the Verkhovna Rada, where they were immediately approved. Martial law and mobilization will remain in effect from August 2 to October 31, 2026. This marks the twentieth extension of martial law and general mobilization since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
What does this mean in practice? For the vast majority of men subject to military service, it means that current restrictions, military registration rules, and mobilization measures will remain in effect. At the same time, the government has simplified the procedure for renewing deferments and confirmed the automatic extension of most existing deferments. Over 90% of these deferments are renewed without any action required from the conscript.
An important caveat concerns critically important enterprises. The government has changed the procedure for reviewing the status of such enterprises, and in order to maintain their current status for the entire duration for which it was granted, enterprises must confirm their compliance with the salary criterion by August 10. Employers must submit a certificate stating the average wages paid to their employees to the authority that granted them critical-importance status. This directly affects the ability to exempt employees from mobilization, so every enterprise hoping to retain this status must submit the required documents within the first ten days of August.
Pensionable Service: New Rules for Crediting Effective August
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One of the most significant changes concerns the procedure for calculating pensionable service. Starting August 2, amendments to the Law “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance” will take effect in Ukraine, designed to protect employees from losing their pensionable service due to employers’ bad faith. From now on, when determining eligibility for an old-age pension, periods of employment during which the employer failed to remit insurance contributions to the Pension Fund will be counted toward the insurance record. The main condition is that contributions must be calculated at a rate no less than the minimum insurance contribution, and the employer must submit the corresponding reports.
Previously, the failure to actually pay contributions could create serious problems when applying for a pension, even if a person was officially employed and received a salary. The new rules are designed to eliminate this injustice and shift the responsibility for non-payment of contributions to the employer, rather than the employee. At the same time, the changes do not exempt employers from the obligation to pay insurance contributions—debts owed to the Pension Fund remain their responsibility.
It’s worth remembering that the requirements for the length of insurance coverage needed to retire at age 60 are increasing every year. By 2026, 33 years of service will be required. Therefore, the new rules for calculating service time, which take effect in August, could be a lifeline for those who, due to unscrupulous employers, risked losing years of official employment.
Social Benefits: Payments Ahead of Independence Day and Support for Veterans
August 2026 is also the month when Ukraine will celebrate the 35th anniversary of its independence. Several important social payments are scheduled to coincide with this date.
For example, the Pension Fund of Ukraine will pay veterans and other beneficiaries between 450 and 3,100 hryvnias in August 2026. This is a one-time Independence Day benefit that will be disbursed without the need for additional applications. The amount of the payments depends on the beneficiary’s category, and the funds will be transferred automatically by August 24.
A separate support program is available for veterans who have completely or partially lost their sight while defending Ukraine. They can receive up to 95,000 hryvnias in targeted assistance from the Red Cross. The funds will be transferred to special accounts from August 1 through October 30, 2026. The funds received can be used to adapt housing and purchase special equipment that will help veterans lead more independent and comfortable lives.
Housing
Subsidies: New Application Process Starting August 1
Starting August 1, 2026, the procedure for granting housing subsidies in Ukraine will change. The main change is that subsidies for the next period will be granted automatically, without the need to submit a new application. This applies to households that already received a subsidy in the previous period and whose family composition or income has not changed.
However, automatic allocation does not apply to everyone. If there have been changes in the household (for example, changes in the composition of registered members, the purchase of new property or a vehicle, or an increase in income), the subsidy will not be granted automatically—you will need to submit a new application to the social protection agency.
Utility Rates: Electricity and Gas Unchanged, Water Prices Rising
The situation with utility rates in August 2026 is mixed. For most Ukrainians, electricity rates will not change directly. Residential consumers will continue to pay 4.32 hryvnia per kilowatt-hour. The government has extended this rate through October 31, 2026. The price of natural gas for residential customers will also remain unchanged in August. For Naftogaz customers, the rate of 7.96 hryvnia per cubic meter remains in effect.
However, the situation with water is quite different. After the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) transferred the authority to set rates to local governments, many cities began revising the cost of water supply and wastewater services. Local authorities have been granted the power to regulate water prices independently, so residents of various cities should keep an eye on the decisions made by their local governments.
Sole Proprietors and Tax Reporting: New Forms Effective August 1
August also brings a number of changes for sole proprietors and businesses. Starting August 1, 2026, sole proprietors and individuals engaged in independent professional activities will transition to new tax reporting forms. Until August 1, they could continue to file reports using the current monthly form, but the new rules take effect at the start of the month.
The first deadline following the transition to the new rules is August 10, 2026; reports for the second quarter must be filed by this date. Tax agents will begin reporting using the new forms starting in July 2026. The new forms will require careful attention and, possibly, additional consultation with accountants.
National Cashback: Unused Funds Returned to the Budget
August 1, 2026, is an important date for all participants in the National Cashback program. All unused funds accumulated on cards will be returned to the state budget. So, those who still have unused funds in their accounts should hurry—after August 1, they will disappear. However, the National Cashback program itself is not being discontinued—it will continue to operate as usual.
Cosmetics: New Technical Regulations Effective August 3
On August 3, 2026, the transition period in Ukraine will end, and the Technical Regulation on Cosmetic Products will take full effect. This means that all cosmetic products sold in Ukraine must comply with the new requirements for safety, labeling, and notification. For manufacturers and importers of cosmetics, this means mandatory product registration. For consumers, it means a higher level of safety and transparency regarding the cosmetic products they purchase.
