Ukraine parliament appoints Serhii Koretskyi as new prime minister after cabinet shake-up
Ukraine’s parliament on Thursday approved Serhii Koretskyi, the head of state energy company Naftogaz, as the country’s new prime minister as part of a major government reshuffle initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Koretskyi was nominated by Zelenskyy, who said his experience in the energy sector made him the best candidate to help Ukraine prepare for another wartime winter. Parliament approved his appointment with 289 votes in favour.The appointment came after former prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko resigned on Sunday. Under Ukrainian law, her resignation led to the resignation of the entire cabinet. Svyrydenko, who served as prime minister for less than a year, is expected to remain in the government in another senior role.Speaking about the appointment, Zelenskyy said the government’s priority was to prepare the country for winter as Russia is expected to renew attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.”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.The appointment is part of a wider cabinet reshuffle in which Zelenskyy removed several senior officials, including defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The president has said the changes are intended to ‘refresh’ the country’s leadership and pursue an ‘updated political strategy’.Fedorov’s dismissal has sparked criticism in Ukraine, with some lawmakers and military reform advocates warning that replacing him after only six months could affect defence reforms during the war. They said he had gained the confidence of Ukraine’s Western partners and played an important role in expanding drone procurement and modernising the country’s defence sector.The move also triggered protests in Kyiv. Demonstrators gathered 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,” local media reported.Parliament is expected to approve more cabinet appointments later on Thursday as part of the government overhaul. Lawmakers have said interior minister Ihor Klymenko is expected to become the new defence minister, although the appointment has not yet been officially confirmed.
