Ukraine eliminates Daylight Saving Time (DST)
Published 20-Sep-2011
Update: In October 2011
the Ukrainian parliament changed its original decision to permanently remain on DST. Ukrainians will continue to turn their clocks back along with most other Europeans.
Kyiv, Ukraine
©iStockphoto.com/artJazz
Ukraine has officially abolished the switch between daylight saving time (DST) and standard time. Clocks in the Eastern European country will be 3 hours ahead of UTC/GMT year-round.
A mere formality
The Ukrainian parliament, Verkhova Rada, passed the bill on Tuesday, September 20, 2011. The intention to cancel seasonal time change had been announced as early as April 2011 by Oleg Nadosha from the ruling Party of Regions. To many observers the vote was therefore a mere formality.
Time in the Ukraine
Clocks in Ukraine were turned one hour ahead for the last time on Sunday, March 27, 2011. Under the old rules, they would have been turned back again on October 30, 2011.
Both Russia and Belarus have also recently decided to observe DST year-round.