Ukraine is preparing for another major political reshuffle after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, saying the move is aimed at bringing “fresh thinking” to the government as the country continues to battle Russia.
The surprise announcement, made on Sunday, came after Svyrydenko had served just one year in office. Ukrainian lawmakers are expected to vote on a new prime minister this week, with parliament set to approve both the new premier and most cabinet appointments.
Zelenskyy said the overhaul is intended to strengthen Ukraine’s leadership at a critical stage of the war, particularly as Kyiv seeks additional air defence support from its allies, pushes forward with its European Union membership bid and prepares for renewed Russian attacks on energy infrastructure ahead of winter.
Several senior figures have emerged as potential candidates to lead the government. They include Naftogaz chief Serhiy Koretskyi, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, who previously served as defence minister, and current Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelenskyy met with each of the potential contenders shortly after announcing the leadership change.
Political analysts believe Koretskyi is among the leading candidates, with his experience in the energy sector viewed as increasingly valuable as Ukraine continues to face repeated Russian strikes targeting power facilities. Others have suggested that experienced crisis managers, including Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, could also be brought into the new administration.
However, the possibility of moving Fedorov from the Defence Ministry has raised concerns among analysts and opposition politicians, who fear it could disrupt ongoing military reforms at a time when Ukraine remains locked in intense fighting with Russia.
Opposition lawmaker Inna Sovsun warned that another leadership change at the Defence Ministry could undermine efforts to modernise the armed forces and tackle the country’s manpower shortages, saying repeated reshuffles risk creating unnecessary instability.
The latest changes follow a series of wartime cabinet reshuffles under Zelenskyy’s administration. Late last year, the president replaced his long-serving chief of staff after the official became linked to an ongoing high-profile corruption investigation known as the “Midas” probe, which has implicated several senior government figures.
Despite the political turbulence, recent polling by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology indicates that public support for Zelenskyy has remained relatively stable at around 60 per cent over the past year.
With elections suspended under martial law, cabinet reshuffles remain one of the few mechanisms available to Zelenskyy to reshape his administration. Nevertheless, critics argue the latest overhaul is unlikely to bring meaningful change, claiming it merely recycles familiar faces within the president’s inner circle rather than introducing new leadership.
