Kyiv: Ukraine's parliament has approved Serhii Koretskyi as the new prime minister, elevating the former energy executive to lead the government amid the ongoing war with Russia. Koretskyi's nomination, submitted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, received overwhelming support from 289 lawmakers, with only one member of parliament voting against it. This appointment follows the dismissal of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, whose resignation led to the automatic resignation of the Cabinet under Ukrainian law.
According to Anadolu Agency, Koretskyi has had a distinguished career in the energy sector before his political elevation. Born in Lutsk in 1978, the 48-year-old has previously held no government positions. He began his career leading the Western Oil Group, a gas station chain, in 2013, and earlier managed Continuum, a management firm, from 2007. Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, Koretskyi took the helm of state-owned energy companies Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta in 2022. He was later appointed as the CEO of Naftogaz, Ukraine's national oil and gas company, in May 2025, a position he held until his recent appointment as prime minister.
Under his leadership at Ukrnafta, the company reportedly increased its oil and gas production and became a profitable state-owned entity, achieving record financial results. With his new role, Koretskyi becomes Ukraine's third prime minister since the start of the war.
Following the parliamentary vote, Koretskyi outlined his government's priorities, emphasizing defense, winter preparations, and Ukraine's EU accession. "Our foremost task is to fully equip Ukraine's Defense Forces and accelerate the expansion of our defense industrial base," Koretskyi stated on the social media platform X. He emphasized the need to enhance Ukrainian forces' capabilities for long-range strikes and other defense missions. Additionally, Koretskyi committed to preparing the country for winter while ensuring support for Ukrainian citizens and businesses. He pledged the timely payment of pensions, social assistance, and funding for essential public services.
Koretskyi also stressed the importance of supporting frontline communities, collaborating with international partners, securing additional resources, and optimizing the use of international assistance. "Our strategic course remains unchanged - Ukraine's full membership in the European Union. Now it's time to get to work," he concluded.