When to switch to winter time in 2024: the last time change in Ukraine

18 October 02:25

In 2024, Ukraine will change its clocks to winter time for the last time, as in June this year, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted to abolish the practice of changing clocks twice a year. Thus, this year Ukraine will permanently switch to “winter time” and will be in the GMT 2 time zone, Komersant UkrainianKomersant Ukrainian reports

Date of clock change in 2024

Daylight saving time (DST) takes place every year on the last Sunday of October. In 2024, this falls on Sunday, 27 October. Thus, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, at 4:00 am, clocks will be set back one hour. So, next weekend, Ukrainians will have a great opportunity to sleep one hour more.

It is worth reminding you that most electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, computers and smartwatches, will change the time automatically, but mechanical watches will have to be set manually.

In addition, travellers should pay special attention to the change of time, as buses, minibuses and trains will be running on the new time. So, before travelling, it is important to check the departure time of your transport to avoid getting into trouble because of the time change.

Time change: pros and cons

Cancellation of the twice-yearly clock change in Ukraine has become a topic of active debate among the public and experts. This decision has both positive and negative consequences and will have a different impact on the country’s regions.

In particular, the eastern regions, such as Luhansk, Donetsk and part of Zaporizhzhia region, will see a shift in the sunrise and sunset schedule in summer. Sunrise there may start at 3:00 am and sunset will occur around 9:00 pm. This may cause inconvenience to residents of the eastern regions of the country, as the shifted daylight hours will force them to adapt to the natural cycle of day and night earlier.

In the western regions of Ukraine, the decision to stay on permanent “winter” time will lead to earlier darkness in the winter months. This could cause inconvenience and affect the way of life and rhythm of the residents of these regions.

Moreover, some experts believe that the switch to winter time could have negative consequences for business. Shifting the working day will mean that employees will have to finish work in the dark, which could have a negative impact on productivity and health.

However, from a medical point of view, the abolition of time shifting is approved by the majority of doctors. Studies show that frequent time changes cause additional stress on the body, which leads to the risk of depression, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. Therefore, many healthcare professionals see this decision as a positive step towards preserving the physical and mental health of citizens.

Author: Olya Yushko

Дзвенислава Карплюк
Editor