Ukraine Reshuffles Government as Prime Minister Resigns

Ukraine’s Prime Minister resigns as President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares a government reshuffle during a critical period in the country’s ongoing conflict.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, resigned on Tuesday as President Volodymyr Zelensky moved ahead with a wider government reshuffle aimed at responding to new political challenges.

Ukraine’s parliament approved her resignation after she had served as prime minister since July 2025. President Zelensky has not announced a successor but said the government is adopting a new political strategy to address “new challenges and new tasks”.

The Ukraine’s Prime Minister reshuffle comes at a crucial stage in the country’s more than four-year war with Russia. Moscow has intensified its ballistic missile attacks, while Kyiv is working to produce US Patriot air defence systems within the country.

Before becoming prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko built strong working relationships with US officials. She also negotiated a minerals investment agreement with Washington following President Zelensky’s Oval Office dispute with President Donald Trump.

Zelensky said he plans to assign different officials to oversee specific areas of foreign policy. He also revealed that he had offered Svyrydenko a new position focused on managing relations with “a key partner”, although he did not provide further details.

The office of Ukraine’s Prime Minister does not usually direct military strategy or battlefield operations, as those decisions remain under President Zelensky and the country’s military leadership.

Svyrydenko said she achieved “concrete results” during her time in office and shared a photograph of herself making a heart symbol while addressing parliament.

Ukrainian media reports have identified Sergiy Koretsky, chief executive of the state energy company Naftogaz, as the leading candidate to replace her. Zelensky recently praised his leadership in the energy sector, which remains vital as Russian attacks continue to damage Ukraine’s electricity network.

Who do you think will lead Ukraine’s government through its next phase of challenges?