Ukraine has undertaken one of its most significant government shake-ups since Russia’s full-scale invasion, replacing its prime minister, defence minister and top military commander as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks to recalibrate the country’s leadership for what is expected to be another prolonged year of war.
Parliament accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko after just one year in office. President Zelenskyy nominated Sergii Koretskyi, the chief executive of state energy company Naftogaz, to lead the next government, signalling that strengthening Ukraine’s energy resilience ahead of another winter of expected Russian missile and drone attacks has become a central priority. Svyrydenko is expected to assume a senior diplomatic post, with reports suggesting she could become Ukraine’s next ambassador to the United States.
The reshuffle also removed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose six-month tenure was marked by an ambitious drive to modernize Ukraine’s armed forces through technology, drones and procurement reforms. His dismissal exposed divisions within the country’s military leadership and sparked rare public protests, with many Ukrainians arguing that his reforms should continue. Zelenskyy appointed former Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) chief Yevhen Khmara to lead the Defence Ministry.
The political fallout soon extended to the military. Amid mounting criticism of battlefield leadership and calls for change, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi was replaced by Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, a younger commander widely viewed as a reformer with extensive frontline experience. Zelenskyy has tasked the new military leadership with accelerating modernization, improving operational effectiveness and maintaining pressure on Russian forces.
Taken together, the appointments underscore a broader strategic shift rather than a routine cabinet reshuffle. By elevating an energy executive to the premiership while overhauling the country’s defence leadership, Kyiv is attempting to balance two urgent priorities: sustaining Ukraine’s military campaign while preparing the country’s civilian infrastructure for another winter under relentless Russian attack. The changes also reflect an effort to strengthen coordination with Ukraine’s international partners as the war enters a new and increasingly demanding phase.
Ostap Hnatyk
