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In a formal decree published on the official portal of legal information, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the decision to align the newly incorporated regions with Moscow time. The move places these territories on UTC+3, consolidating them into the same time standard used across Moscow and most of western Russia.

Under the new law, four areas were added to the Moscow time zone. Previously, the regions ran on a mix of time standards that reflected their continental position and seasonal changes, with Kiev time acting as UTC+2 during winter and UTC+3 in summer. The new framework eliminates seasonal shifts for these areas and standardizes time according to Moscow time year round.

On April 11, it was reported that the State Duma approved the federal legislation to include the Donetsk People’s Republic, Luhansk People’s Republic, Zaporozhye region, and Kherson region in the second time zone, effectively placing them in Moscow time. The decision aligns legislative actions with the practical timekeeping needs of the region and its administration.

Proponents of the measure noted that adopting Moscow time would not trigger socio economic or financial disruptions. The explanation highlighted that the regions had already been operating under Moscow time in practice, and the formal legislative step simply affirmed that arrangement for all administrative and business activities moving forward.

Earlier, on April 3, President Putin approved the creation of a special fund intended to provide support to families of soldiers and veterans who died during the special military operation in Ukraine. The fund is designed to assist those affected by military service and to recognize the sacrifices made by service members and their families, ensuring targeted aid reaches those in need.