Ukraine’s parliament voted on Thursday to install Serhii Koretskyi, the chief executive of state energy company Naftogaz, as the country’s new prime minister, with 289 deputies backing the nomination. The appointment, part of a major government overhaul initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was accompanied by the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move that drew hundreds of protesters to the streets outside the parliament building in Kyiv.

President Zelenskyy, in nominating Koretskyi, described him as “the most prepared person” to lead the government, citing his record in maintaining gas supplies through a winter of Russian strikes on energy infrastructure. Koretskyi told lawmakers before the vote that his tenure at Naftogaz had shown that “public management can and must be effective” and pledged to bring principles of responsibility and professionalism to the premiership. The outgoing prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, resigned on Tuesday after less than a year in office; she is expected to remain in the cabinet in another senior role. The simultaneous removal of Fedorov provoked criticism from Ukrainian lawmakers and military reform advocates, who argued that replacing a minister who had gained the confidence of Western partners and overseen the expansion of drone procurement could disrupt defence modernisation during the war.

Viewed from Western capitals, Fedorov’s dismissal after only six months alters the leadership of defence reforms that had been closely coordinated with allied governments. According to Ukrainian media reports, the interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, is expected to be named as his successor, though no official confirmation has been issued. Analysts in Kyiv note that Koretskyi’s lack of prior political experience surprised many, but his appointment signals a presidential priority on energy security ahead of an anticipated renewal of Russian attacks on power and heating systems. The reshuffle follows the resignation of the entire cabinet under Ukrainian law, triggered by the prime minister’s departure, and Zelenskyy has framed the changes as an effort to “refresh” the country’s leadership and pursue an “updated political strategy.”

Parliament is scheduled to approve further cabinet appointments later on Thursday, with the defence portfolio among the posts to be filled. The street protests, with demonstrators carrying signs reading “Fedorov is the defence minister” and “Do not change what works,” indicate domestic political friction over the direction of the war effort as the new government takes shape.