MPs Who Skip Work During Wartime Should Be Drafted, Says Ukrainian Lawmaker.

What’s Expected of Lawmakers Under Martial Law

According to Novyny.live: Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, a member of Ukraine’s parliament representing the Batkivshchyna party, is pushing for stricter measures against absent legislators. He argues that those who fail to show up for their duties while the country is under martial law should lose their seats and be conscripted into military service. Nalyvaichenko made his case during an appearance on the program "Evening.LIVE," stressing that accountability for non-performing MPs is long overdue.

"We need to introduce one simple change. Members of parliament who do not come to work at the Verkhovna Rada during martial law must be stripped of their mandate. Period. After that, on the same terms as all other Ukrainian citizens, they should be subject to mobilization," Nalyvaichenko stated.

His stance underscores a growing frustration with lawmakers who remain inactive while the nation fights for survival.

Anti-Corruption Bills and Presidential Pressure

Separately, former parliament speaker Dmytro Razumkov has introduced a bill that would classify corruption as high treason. This reflects a broader push among legislators to toughen penalties for corrupt acts during wartime. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also weighed in, arguing that any MP wishing to resign their mandate should either keep working or join the front lines.

David Arakhamia, head of the ruling party’s parliamentary faction, commented on the president’s suggestion that legal changes could allow sitting lawmakers to serve in the military. These proposals are driven by the urgent need to adapt legislation to wartime realities and improve the efficiency of state institutions.

As the war continues, debates over mobilizing MPs and penalizing those who neglect their duties have become increasingly pressing. Nalyvaichenko’s calls for legal reform signal a wider discussion within Ukraine’s parliament about ensuring effective governance during a military crisis—a matter critical to maintaining the country’s defense and stability.