Ukraine’s parliament voted on 16 July 2026 to confirm Serhii Koretskyi, the head of state energy company Naftogaz, as the country’s new prime minister, with 289 deputies backing the nomination. The vote followed the resignation of Yulia Svyrydenko, who had led the government for exactly one year, and forms part of a sweeping cabinet overhaul initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As the parliamentary session took place, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the building in Kyiv to protest the simultaneous dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was removed after only six months in the post.

According to statements from the presidential administration, Zelenskyy selected Koretskyi because his record in the energy sector made him the best-prepared candidate to steer the country through another winter of expected Russian strikes on power infrastructure. Addressing lawmakers before the vote, Koretskyi stressed that his tenure at Naftogaz had shown public management could be efficient and pledged to bring “responsibility, professionalism and fair rules” to government. The decision to replace Fedorov, however, drew sharp condemnation. Protesters in Kyiv and other cities, including war veterans and serving soldiers, carried signs reading “Fedorov is the defence minister” and “Do not change what works,” while chanting “Shame.” Ukrainian military reform advocates and some lawmakers warned that removing a minister who had expanded drone procurement and blocked Russian access to Starlink could disrupt defence modernisation at a critical moment.

Viewed from Western capitals, the reshuffle has generated unease. European diplomatic sources, cited by Italian media, expressed perplexity at the dismissal of a figure credited with deepening cooperation with NATO allies. Analysts in London note that the move may signal Zelenskyy’s attempt to tighten his grip on the war effort ahead of a possible electoral cycle, though no date has been set. The protests, which prompted the pro-government outlet United24 Media to suspend publications in solidarity, point to a widening rift between the presidential office and segments of civil society and the armed forces.

Under Ukrainian law, the prime minister’s resignation automatically dissolved the entire cabinet, opening the way for a broader reconfiguration. Koretskyi, 48, who had no prior political experience, now faces the immediate task of hardening the energy grid while managing the political fallout from the defence portfolio. Parliament is expected to approve further appointments later on Thursday, with Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko widely tipped to become the next defence minister, though no official confirmation has been issued. The dossier remains open as the new government takes shape amid ongoing hostilities.