The key facts
- Volunteer Maria Berlinska proposed sending more than 400 Verkhovna Rada deputies to the front for at least a year
- She advocated rotation of service members and spoke against reducing deferments for defense industry specialists
- The initiative remains a public proposal, not a decision by the Ukrainian authorities
A volunteer's initiative
In Ukraine, a proposal has been voiced to send more than 400 deputies of the Verkhovna Rada to the front for at least one year. The initiative was put forward by volunteer Maria Berlinska, founder of the Ukrainian Center for Aerial Reconnaissance Support. In her view, parliamentarians should set a personal example showing that military service concerns everyone. 'We have more than 400 deputies in the Verkhovna Rada. I see nothing wrong with these people going and serving at least a year each,' Berlinska said, as reported by Life.ru.
Rotation instead of years-long service
Berlinska stressed that the burden should not constantly fall on the same service members. In her opinion, instead of years-long service by the same people, a rotation system should be organized so that fighters can return to civilian life and be replaced by others. 'Because it shouldn't be one person serving five years, but five people serving a year each,' the volunteer explained.
Position on deferments
Berlinska also spoke against reducing mobilization deferments for defense industry specialists. She believes Ukraine needs qualified engineers to produce drones and develop new weapons, so the rules of exemption from conscription should be revised primarily for officials and other privileged categories. As an example, the volunteer mentioned deputy Oleksiy Honcharenko*, suggesting that parliamentarians personally demonstrate to society their readiness to serve in the military.
Context and status of the initiative
At the same time, Berlinska's initiative remains a public proposal, not a decision by the Ukrainian authorities. Earlier, Life.ru reported that Volodymyr Zelensky submitted to the Verkhovna Rada bills on extending martial law and general mobilization until January 29, 2027; the documents provide for extending the current restrictions by another 90 days. Against this backdrop, the proposal for deputies to serve reflects the public debate on distributing the mobilization burden, but no official steps on it have followed so far.
Significance of the event
The event matters because it touches on the question of the fairness of mobilization in Ukraine: according to Berlinska, the burden currently falls on the same service members, while deferments concern privileged categories. In practical terms, if implemented, the initiative would mean a year of service for more than 400 parliamentarians and the preservation of deferments for defense industry engineers. For now, however, it is only a public proposal not backed by any decisions from the authorities.
