Vacations in the Rada: will MPs work in the summer?
28 May 2025 18:19
Today, social media and telegram channels have posted an alleged summer work schedule for MPs, according to which they will have only one working week in July and August, and two working weeks in June. "Komersant Ukrainian" asked the MPs themselves whether they will really be on vacation almost all summer and what they actually do in the absence of plenary sessions.
There are no vacations
According to Mykhailo Tsymbalyuk (Batkivshchyna faction ), MPs currently have neither vacations nor holidays.
“Well, first of all, there are no vacations and even no holidays. MPs have been working for the last three years without any vacations at all. Although this is a violation of labor rights, I believe that during the war one can be patient. As for the printing of various schedules, I want to remind all those who think that the work of a deputy is only voting in the session hall that this is not the case. It also includes participation in PACE sessions, work in committees where many issues are considered. As a rule, we have a committee meeting once every two weeks, and sometimes every week.
And to vote on a bill in the hall, you have to, first of all, prepare it, pass it through the committee, and sometimes it takes 10 days. In addition, for example, I have several working groups to prepare draft laws for the second reading. That is, if an MP is doing his or her job in good faith, he or she has no time even for a weekend.”
There will be no vacations
MP Fedir Venislavskyi (Servant of the People faction ) also denied the information that MPs can have a summer vacation. According to him, MPs will not have any vacations until the war is over.
“There have been no vacations since 2022 and there will be no vacations until the end of the war. MPs also have no vacations. The schedule of plenary sessions is a decision of the conciliation board of parliamentary factions. In addition, work in plenary session mode is only 5-10% of the MP’s total work. The work in committees, temporary investigatory commissions, working groups, etc. is 90%, and it takes place regardless of the plenary sessions.”
The schedule of plenary sessions may change
According to MP Yevheniia Kravchuk (Servant of the People faction ), the schedule of the Rada plenary sessions may still be changed.
“If anyone takes a vacation, it is at their own expense. I am sorry, but I cannot disclose the dates of the session weeks. In addition, the schedule of plenary sessions is still being adjusted to international events – large assemblies, etc. when there are a lot of business trips,” she clarified.
Similarly, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak (Golos faction ) confirmed the information that the plenary session schedules can be changed at any time .
“Honestly, I am convinced that the schedule will change. I definitely work in the Committee every day. That’s why a plenary week or a non-plenary week is the same for me,” he said in a comment
.
There should be more plenary sessions
The alleged work schedule of the Verkhovna Rada, which has not been officially confirmed, was circulated in social networks, commented for 
“In short, my opinion is that I don’t like the schedule, but always pay attention to the work of MPs in constituencies and in committees. Despite the fact that there will be a break between meetings, probably three weeks, if I’m not mistaken, there is work on draft laws, work in constituencies, public work, volunteer work, and so on.
In fact, our meetings are always relatively short, three or four hours for just one session. That’s why it’s only for voting. But I’ve already expressed my opinion that I didn’t like this schedule either, and we could change it a little bit. And I think it’s better to ask the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada to explain why the factions or whoever decided to do it this way,” said Kamelchuk.
