Ukraine’s Parliament on Tuesday approved the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who stepped down after just one year in office following a request from President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Lawmakers voted in favor of her resignation, although several MPs voiced concerns over the unexpected cabinet reshuffle. In her farewell address, the 40-year-old economist thanked the Ukrainian people and Parliament for the trust placed in her during her tenure.
“Every day of this year required difficult decisions and decisive action. I have always believed that results matter most,” Svyrydenko said.
Svyrydenko became prime minister a year ago after a major corruption scandal involving senior Ukrainian officials. However, critics argued that her government did not take sufficient steps to strengthen anti-corruption efforts.
President Zelensky said Ukraine is entering a new political phase and needs new leadership within the government, though he did not provide further details about the reasons behind the reshuffle.
Under Ukraine’s constitutional framework, the resignation of the prime minister automatically results in the dismissal of the entire cabinet.
According to Ukrainian media, Serhiy Koretskyi, the head of the state-owned energy company Naftogaz, is among the leading candidates to become the next prime minister. Other names reportedly under consideration include former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Mykhailo Fedorov, who has served in senior government roles, Reuters reported.
The government changes come as Ukraine continues to face Russia’s full-scale invasion while preparing for the challenges of the coming winter and protecting its energy infrastructure from anticipated Russian attacks.
In her final remarks, Svyrydenko emphasized that ensuring a stable energy supply throughout the winter will be one of the greatest challenges facing the next government.
