Zelenskiy sacks Ukrainian PM after one year in office
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he planned to replace Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko after just one year in office, triggering the government’s resignation.
Zelenskiy did not specify who he would want to lead the government or what Svyrydenko’s new position would be, but added that there would also be changes among the heads of law enforcement agencies.
He said the changes were necessary to “ensure the implementation of an updated political strategy” but did not provide further details.
“I am grateful to Yulia for her clear, steady and effective work as Prime Minister and for her years of fruitful service to the Ukrainian team, and I offered her the opportunity to manage a new and important area of relationships with a key partner,” Zelenskiy said in a statement to X. he said.
“I hope that together with the MPs we will make the necessary changes in the Ukrainian government.”
Svyrydenko, an economist, was appointed in July 2025 after serving as deputy head of Zelenskiy’s office for a year and then deputy prime minister for economic development and trade for four years.
Zelenskiy also did not explain the reasons for the proposed changes among law enforcement leaders.
Last year, Ukraine was shaken by its biggest corruption scandal, which led to the resignation of the influential head of the presidential administration.
The so-called Midas case, which authorities say involves a $100 million ($144 million) kickback scheme against state-owned nuclear energy company Energoatom, has drawn the attention of figures close to Zelenskiy and cast a shadow over the government at a time when Ukraine wants to show its allies it can fight high-level corruption.
Authorities accused Zelenskiy’s former business partner Timur Mindich of leading the kickback scheme and also named Zelenskiy’s former private secretary Andriy Yermak as a suspect.
Both denied injustice.
According to Ukrainian law, the resignation of the prime minister requires parliament’s approval and the resignation of the entire government.
MPs say possible successors include Svyrydenko’s predecessor, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal; Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov; and Serhiy Koretskyi, head of state energy company Naftogaz.
Well-informed opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak said Koretskyi had the best chance of being nominated as the new head of government, and Svyrydenko was most likely to take the post of ambassador to the United States.
Olga Stefanishyna, who was appointed last August, currently serves as ambassador to the United States.
