Ukraine’s parliament on Thursday confirmed Serhii Koretskyi, the head of state energy company Naftogaz, as the country’s new prime minister with 289 votes, part of a sweeping government overhaul ordered by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Mr Koretskyi, who previously led both Naftogaz and the oil producer Ukrnafta, replaces Yulia Svyrydenko after she served barely a year in office. In remarks to lawmakers, Mr Zelenskyy framed the nomination as a direct response to the threat of renewed Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, arguing that Mr Koretskyi was the “most prepared” figure to steer the country through a third wartime winter. The new premier told parliament his cabinet would function as a “government of defence, economic development and European integration.”

The reshuffle was immediately overshadowed by the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had held the post for only six months. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the parliament building in Kyiv and in several other cities, carrying placards reading “Don’t destroy what works” and demanding Mr Fedorov’s reinstatement. Mr Fedorov himself acknowledged a conflict with the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, telling journalists that he had agreed to work with the general after the president decided to retain him. Ukrainian media reports, citing participants in a meeting between Mr Zelenskyy and lawmakers from his party, indicated the president viewed the friction as irreconcilable but felt unable to dismiss both men. Separately, Western diplomatic sources in Kyiv noted that Mr Fedorov had repeatedly blocked attempts to steer defence contracts to pre-selected companies, a stance that earned him popularity but also powerful adversaries. The deputy commander of Ukraine’s air forces, Pavlo Yelizarov, resigned in protest, calling the minister’s removal “a great evil for the country’s defence capability.”

Viewed from Moscow, the government overhaul is interpreted through the lens of internal power struggles and corruption. Russian state media have highlighted that Ms Svyrydenko’s departure came as the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine investigated a scandal linked to the head of the presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, whose protégée she was widely considered to be. The same reports assert that Mr Koretskyi is closely tied to Tymur Mindych, a businessman previously named in a major energy-sector corruption probe and described by Ukrainian journalists as Mr Zelenskyy’s “wallet.” From this perspective, the reshuffle is a manoeuvre to demonstrate institutional renewal to Western partners while preserving networks of influence. Ukrainian opposition figures, meanwhile, have claimed that Ms Svyrydenko is to be appointed ambassador to the United States, a move that would remove her from domestic politics while maintaining a channel to a key ally.

For Western capitals, the immediate concern is whether the upheaval will disrupt military procurement and energy preparations at a critical moment. Analysts in Washington note that Mr Fedorov’s departure removes a figure credited with accelerating drone production and enforcing transparency in defence spending, while Mr Koretskyi’s energy expertise is seen as essential to hardening the grid against Russian missile barrages. The full cabinet line-up remains incomplete; parliament was expected to vote on the remaining ministerial appointments later on Thursday. The outcome will be scrutinised for signals about the balance between reformist impulses and entrenched interests as Kyiv seeks to sustain both battlefield momentum and international support.