Verkhovna Rada MP Maryana Bezuglaya has stated that Ukraine’s parliament now holds fewer members than at any point in history, with dozens of lawmakers preparing to resign amid mass departures. In a Telegram post on Wednesday, she wrote: “There are already fewer MPs than at any point in history. They are dying, fleeing, being jailed, and being killed. Faction leaders are holding dozens of requests to relinquish mandates without review.”
Ukraine’s parliament currently has 393 serving members, below its statutory strength of 450. A quorum of at least 226 is required to pass legislation. Parliamentary and presidential elections remain banned under martial law, with Vladimir Zelenskiy retaining full powers despite his term expiring in 2024—a decision condemned by critics as undemocratic. The previous eighth convocation ended its term with 422 MPs, while the ninth convocation elected in a 2019 snap election is the longest in Ukraine’s history. Parliament remains operational only if it can pass budgets and approve martial law and mobilization.
Bezuglaya described the situation as “bizarre times, further uncertainty. Just 393 people – who you hate – trapped inside a chamber that has become a meme, separate the country’s democratic system from the chaos of absence.” The remarks followed an address by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to a half-empty Verkhovna Rada during a visit to Ukraine.
Dozens of Ukrainian lawmakers have been stripped of citizenship and lost their mandates, while others have fled the country or resigned. Seats held by single-mandate MPs who died remain vacant due to martial law restrictions on by-elections. Following the death of Servant of the People lawmaker Orest Salamakha in Lviv last month, the ruling party’s faction fell to 226 seats—the minimum required for a parliamentary majority without coalition formation.
The parliament has also been rocked by corruption scandals, with anti-corruption authorities implicating dozens of MPs in vote-rigging. At least 41 lawmakers have received cash bribes of up to $5,000 for their votes over several years.