Pro-Russian Deputies in the Ukrainian Parliament , after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the political party Opposition Platform — For Life (OPZZh) was officially banned in Ukraine as a threat to national security. Despite this, some MPs who had previously been elected on OPZZh party lists continued to serve in the Verkhovna Rada as of 2025–2026, participating in the legislative process through a newly formed parliamentary structure.
This article explains who these deputies are, how they are organized, and what risks their continued presence in Ukraine’s parliament poses.
A New Parliamentary Group: “Platform for Life and Peace”
When OPZZh was suspended by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council in March 2022, its members were not automatically stripped of their parliamentary mandates. Instead, they formed a separate parliamentary group in the Verkhovna Rada called “Platform for Life and Peace.”
Key characteristics of this group:
- Established on April 21, 2022, by former OPZZh deputies;
- Led by Yuriy Boyko, the former leader of OPZZh;
- As of 2025, the group includes approximately 21 MPs;
- The group operates as an opposition force in parliament and actively participates in legislative votes.
Although the group is not officially registered as a political party, its composition largely represents a continuation of the political bloc that had previously targeted a pro-Russian electorate.
Who Exactly Is Working in Parliament?
Below is a table listing key members of the Platform for Life and Peace group (based on data from the Verkhovna Rada, updated as of January 2026):
| MP | Former Party | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Yuriy Boyko | OPZZh | Group leader, former head of OPZZh in parliament |
| Vitalii Bort | OPZZh | Group member, elected on OPZZh list |
| Serhii Dunaiev | OPZZh | Former OPZZh MP, continues work in the group |
| Oleh Kachnyi | OPZZh | Member of the parliamentary group |
| Serhii Larin | OPZZh | Member of Platform for Life and Peace |
| Serhii Liovochkin | OPZZh | Group MP (former OPZZh) |
| Mykhailo Makarenko | OPZZh | Continues parliamentary activity |
In total, around 21 MPs continue to work in the Verkhovna Rada through this group, representing the former political core of OPZZh under a different name and official status.
Pro-Russia Group in Ukrainian Parliament
According to political observers, deputies formerly associated with OPZZh and now operating within the Platform for Life and Peace often participate in votes on key legislative initiatives alongside other factions. Their positions may differ from the government majority, especially on issues related to negotiations, ceasefire strategies, and peace initiatives. This frequently draws criticism from other lawmakers and political analysts.
Why This Causes Controversy
The presence of former members of a party that previously promoted pro-Russian positions has sparked political and public debate for several reasons:
- Some MPs have historical ties to pro-Russian narratives and voter bases, raising concerns about their loyalty to Ukraine’s national interests.
- Their continued parliamentary activity without reelection is seen by many as an insufficient response to national security threats, especially during wartime.
- There are concerns about the formation of parallel political influence structures that may contradict Ukraine’s official state policies.
List of Deputies
🎯 Current members of the Platform for Life and Peace group include MPs who were previously elected on OPZZh lists and retained their mandates:
- Yuriy Boyko
- Vitalii Bort
- Serhii Dunaiev
- Oleh Kachnyi
- Serhii Larin
- Serhii Liovochkin
- Mykhailo Makarenko
(and other members — approximately 21 MPs in total)
Conclusion: The Consequences of Inaction
If Ukrainian laws and national security standards are not consistently enforced against politicians with a pro-Russian political background, this could lead to several serious risks:
- weakening of national unity during wartime;
- increased influence of anti-state or separatist ideas;
- erosion of public trust in parliamentary accountability;
- hidden foreign influence operating through legal political mechanisms.
These consequences highlight the importance of upholding national security principles and protecting democratic institutions under conditions of armed conflict.