Ukraine's Parliament Approves Serhii Koretskyi As New Prime Minister Amid Major Reshuffle

​Zelenskyy nominated Koretskyi, citing his record in the energy sector and arguing that he was best placed to help prepare Ukraine for another wartime winter.

As part of a major government reshuffle initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s Parliament on Thursday approved Serhii Koretskyi, the head of state energy company Naftogaz, as the country’s new Prime Minister.

Zelenskyy nominated Koretskyi, citing his record in the energy sector and arguing that he was best placed to help prepare Ukraine for another wartime winter. He was voted in with 289 votes in favour.

Koretskyi’s appointment came after former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko resigned on Sunday and following this, the entire cabinet had to submit tehir resignations, in accordance with the Ukrainian law.

Svyrydenko, who served as Prime Minister for less than a year, is expected to remain in the government in another senior role.

Koretskyi’s appointment came as hundreds of protesters gathered outside Parliament to oppose Zelenskyy’s dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, after just six months in office. Meanwhile, critics are warning that the move could disrupt military reforms during the war.

The move also triggered protests in Kyiv with demonstrators protesting outside Parliament and the President’s office carrying signs reading “Fedorov is the Defense Minister”, “Why?” and “Do not change what works”, while chanting “Shame”.

“The priorities are clear – preparing for winter. Therefore, following all the consultations, Serhii Koretskyi is surely the most prepared candidate for the post of Prime Minister of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.