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Ukraine imposes martial law after the full-scale invasion

On 24 February 2022 the president signed a martial-law decree and the Rada approved it the same day, after Russia’s full-scale invasion. In the causal graph this event weakens Democratic Resilience, a driver that strengthens Having a say in government — a worsening welfare path.

Sources: [1][2]

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On 24 February 2022 the president signed a martial-law decree and the Rada approved it the same day, after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Elections were later postponed under that regime. Martial law is a completed constitutional wartime act.

Who was responsible

Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.75 · verified

    He signed the decree. The Rada approved. Commanders implement on the ground.

What changed

Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.

    1. FactUkraine imposes martial law after the full-scale invasion
    2. weakensDriverDemocratic Resilience
    3. strengthensIndicators (3)Having a say in government
    Worsening path

    impact weight 0.5 · Effect from 24 February 2022 · verified

    Postponed elections and wartime restrictions reduce ordinary democratic control for the duration of martial law.

    • Having a say in government

      via Democratic Resilience

      Worse

      Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.35 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.7)

      Observed

      29.8% of population aged 16-65 years · 8.13 below the normal line (2023)

      Worse than normal

      Two readings: 30.2% of population aged 16-65 years (2021) and 29.8% of population aged 16-65 years (2023).

      20212023

      Above normal = better

    • Clean elections index

      via Democratic Resilience

      Worse

      Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      0.53 score from 0 to 1 · 0.34 below the normal line (2024)

      Worse than normal

      125 readings, 1900–2024: rose from 0.17 score from 0 to 1 to 0.53 score from 0 to 1.

      Above normal = better

    • WJP Rule of Law Index (global)

      via Democratic Resilience

      Worse

      Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      0.55 index score (0-1) · 0.26 below the normal line (2024)

      Worse than normal

      Above normal = better

    1. FactUkraine imposes martial law after the full-scale invasion
    2. strengthensDriverHumanitarian Access
    3. strengthensIndicatorPeople Internally Displaced by Conflict and Violence (IDMC)
    Worsening path

    impact weight 0.45 · Effect from 24 February 2022 · verified

    Organised wartime command can also protect civilian evacuation and aid corridors relative to state collapse.

Evidence

The sources behind this fact and its verification state.

Verified2 sources on file
  1. 1.Reuters — Ukraine imposes martial lawReuters · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.Presidential decree on martial law, 24 February 2022Office of the President of Ukraine · High credibility · verified

Causal path

How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.

  1. ActorVolodymyr Zelenskyy
  2. contributed toFactUkraine imposes martial law after the full-scale invasion
  3. weakensDrivers (2)Democratic Resilience
  4. strengthensIndicatorHaving a say in government

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). Ukraine imposes martial law after the full-scale invasion. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/ua-martial-law-2022

https://factrail.ai/facts/ua-martial-law-2022

Accessed 15 October 2026.

By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed

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