New faces in parliament: who are Bohdan Morklyanik and Victoria Reznikova, who became MPs in 2026

On August 18, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine received two new People's Deputies from the "Servant of the People" party. The Central Election Commission officially recognized Bohdan Morklyanik and Victoria Reznikova as elected, having received mandates following the early termination of the powers of their predecessors — Denys Maslov and Vitaliy Bezgin. Both politicians had previously not held deputy seats but possess significant experience in science, education, and public administration.

Bohdan Morklyanik: scientist, official, and mobilized soldier

Bohdan Morklyanik is a Doctor of Technical Sciences and a professor at the Department of Strength of Materials and Structural Mechanics of the Lviv Polytechnic National University. Between 2008 and 2014, he held the position of Vice-Rector of this university, demonstrating his deep experience in the academic environment. His scientific activities are focused on engineering and construction, areas critical for the restoration of Ukraine's infrastructure after the war.

In addition to his academic career, Morklyanik has experience working in high-ranking government positions. He served as an advisor to the First Vice-Prime Minister — Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Stepan Kubiv, and also headed the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations. In 2018, he was elected to the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance, where he became the Deputy Head of the agency.

After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in March 2022, Morklyanik was mobilized into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This fact highlights his personal involvement in defending the country and adds weight to his political position. In 2019, he ran for the Verkhovna Rada on the "Servant of the People" list under number 163 but did not receive a mandate at that time. Now, in 2026, he has officially become a People's Deputy.

Victoria Reznikova: lawyer, professor, and candidate for deputy

Victoria Reznikova is a Doctor of Legal Sciences, a professor, and a specialist in commercial law. For a long time, she worked at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, where she was the Head of the Department of Commercial Law of the Faculty of Law. Her scientific works and teaching activities have established her as an expert in the field of economic legislation.

In 2019, Reznikova also ran for the Verkhovna Rada on the "Servant of the People" list, taking 165th place in the electoral list. At that time, she did not receive a mandate but remained in the queue of candidates. In July 2026, the CEC recognized her as an elected People's Deputy following the early termination of the powers of Vitaliy Bezgin, who moved to work in the Cabinet of Ministers.

Reasons for personnel changes in the Cabinet and the Rada

Personnel changes in the Verkhovna Rada are directly linked to reshuffles in the Cabinet of Ministers. Denys Maslov and Vitaliy Bezgin, who previously held deputy mandates, were appointed to ministerial positions, which required them to resign from their powers as MPs. This necessitated a replacement, which was implemented through the mechanism of succession in party lists.

These reshuffles are taking place against the backdrop of the strengthening role of the "Servant of the People" faction in the formation of the government. As reported by RBC-Ukraine sources, the head of the faction, David Arakhamia, plays a key role in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's team, which explains the party's active participation in personnel decisions.

Contradictory data

Although official sources confirm the election of Morklyanik and Reznikova, some details of their biographies and careers raise questions. For example, one source mentions that Morklyanik was mobilized in 2022, but there is no information on exactly when he was demobilized and returned to political activity. There is also no exact date of his appointment as an advisor to Stepan Kubiv, which may indicate incomplete data.

Furthermore, regarding Reznikova, there is no information about her participation in any state projects or initiatives outside the academic environment. This may indicate that her political experience is limited only to her participation in the 2019 elections.

Prospects for new MPs

Bohdan Morklyanik and Victoria Reznikova represent a new type of deputy — scientists and experts who enter politics with specific professional competencies. Their appointment may signal the "Servant of the People" party's desire to strengthen the expert potential in parliament, especially in issues of economic recovery and legal reform.

However, their success will depend on their ability to adapt to political realities and effectively interact with other factions. Given the current situation in the country, their work will be aimed at solving practical tasks, such as infrastructure restoration, protection of entrepreneurs' rights, and improving the quality of education.