The article analyzes the ethical dilemmas and moral collisions that civil servants faced during the war years. It is noted that in such conditions, many norms of professional ethics do not give clues to employees, so it makes sense to refer to the principles of professional activity. However, wartime introduces significant changes in the substantive components of the very principles of public service, placing new emphasis on their reading and restructuring their very hierarchy in the value system of public service. The article discusses the features of the implementation in wartime of such principles of public service as patriotism and the rule of law, tolerance and openness, political impartiality, integrity and courtesy.