Six Years of Kyiv Deputies’ Work in the Verkhovna Rada: Achievements, Scandals, and Promises
Amid ongoing large-scale military conflict and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the activities of Kyiv's parliamentarians have taken on new significance.
Due to the prolonged war, elections have been postponed indefinitely, and Kyiv's elected representatives have been working in an extended, extraordinary mode for over a year, fulfilling their duties under difficult conditions.
This concerns the 13 Kyiv-majority MPs elected in 2019 from the 'Servant of the People' party.
Over these six years, some of them left the faction or were expelled amid scandals and internal conflicts.
They registered more than 1500 legislative initiatives, sought to influence Kyiv's governance, and pushed several controversial urban development reforms, including law №5655.
Analyzing their activities, the NGO 'Chesno' shows that many promises remain unfulfilled, and their engagement has significantly decreased after 2022.
Details about their paths and achievements are provided below.
Alexander Yurchenko, district №211, known for fighting corruption, recounts his parliamentary journey.
Initially the first 'Servant of the People' MP for Kyiv, elected in Holosiivskyi district, his activities later drew attention due to scandals and suspicions.
He faced arrests for bribery, traffic accidents, and conflicts, including incidents in Lviv.
Despite this, he was active in proposing laws and participated in military efforts: in 2022, he appeared in military uniform and even founded the charity 'Defense of Holosiiv.' Maxim Perebyinis, district №212, is a medical professional heading a health subcommittee, having submitted over 260 initiatives focusing mainly on healthcare and Kyiv-related issues, including supporting the law on Kyiv's status.
Artem Dubnov, elected in Dniprovskyi district, is a former doctor and deputy chair of the health committee, with nearly 50% of his 139 bills enacted.
His activities are mostly on medical and local governance issues, with some long-standing initiatives dating back before the war.
Bohdan Yaremenko, district №215, a former diplomat and head of Kyiv's branch of UKROP, has worked on security and defense legislation, submitting 87 bills, only 13% of which became law.
Known for a scandalous start, he is engaged in urban development issues.
Lyudmila Buymister, district №223, a former business and NGO activist, joined the 'Batkivshchyna' faction in 2025 after leaving 'Servant of the People.' She is among the most absentee members, missing over 60% of votes, but has submitted 116 bills mainly on economic development and Kyiv urban issues.
Other deputies continue working within their districts or remain in factions, fulfilling campaign promises.
Overall, due to the impossibility of conducting elections amid war, monitoring deputies’ activity has become a crucial accountability tool for communities.
Many promises made at the start of their terms remain unfulfilled, and the number of bills and initiatives has declined compared to 2019–2021.
In wartime, without elections and political pressure, public oversight and district work are essential for holding deputies accountable and protecting citizens’ interests.