Kyiv: Ukraine's parliament on Thursday approved Serhii Koretskyi as the country's new prime minister, marking the latest government reshuffle. During a parliamentary session in the Verkhovna Rada, 289 deputies supported Koretskyi's candidacy for the post, which was vacated by Yulia Svyrydenko following her resignation after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to replace the Cabinet over the weekend.
According to Anadolu Agency, parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk stated that Zelenskyy submitted Koretskyi's nomination for prime minister to the Verkhovna Rada shortly after Svyrydenko's resignation. A vote on Koretskyi's Cabinet is expected to take place later on Thursday. Previously, Koretskyi served as CEO of Naftogaz, Ukraine's national oil and gas company, since May 2025.
In a subsequent vote, Ukraine's parliament approved most members of the new Cabinet, supporting 16 ministerial appointments proposed by Koretskyi. Lawmakers approved the nominations in a 264 - 15 vote, with 19 abstentions and 20 not voting, as per a broadcast of the parliamentary session. The Constitution stipulates that candidates for defense and foreign minister are nominated separately by Zelenskyy, thus these appointments were not part of Thursday's vote.
The reshuffle follows parliament's vote to dismiss Svyrydenko's government after Zelenskyy called for a renewed executive team as part of an updated political strategy aimed at strengthening governance during the ongoing war. Zelenskyy, speaking to reporters in Kyiv, acknowledged tensions between the Defense Ministry and the General Staff, which contributed to the reshuffle. He cited unresolved issues in areas such as mobilization and military recruitment, which necessitated changes in leadership.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for unity among government bodies and hinted that outgoing Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov would remain in his team, though his future role is yet to be determined. Former Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko is being considered for the role of defense minister, with Zelenskyy highlighting Klymenko's experience in addressing mobilization-related issues. Despite media reports of protests against Fedorov's dismissal, Zelenskyy has not yet finalized the new Defense Ministry leadership.