Zelensky Proposes Replacing Yulia Svyrydenko After Ukraine PM Resigns In Government Reshuffle

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed replacing Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko as part of a broader government reshuffle aimed at implementing an "updated political strategy".

“Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced a government reshuffle, as well as proposing the replacement of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and the heads of some law enforcement agencies”

Al Jazeera

Svyrydenko stepped down on Sunday as Zelensky announced fresh changes to Ukraine’s government, saying he had offered a new and important position to the former premier.

Al Jazeera

Zelensky said the personnel changes were needed to "ensure the implementation of the updated political strategy" and added that there would also be changes among the heads of law enforcement agencies.

Under Ukrainian law, the prime minister’s resignation needs approval of parliament, and entails the resignation of the entire government.

France 24 reported that lawmakers say possible successors include Svyrydenko's predecessor, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal; Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov; and Serhiy Koretskyi, head of the state energy company, Naftogaz.

Opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak said Svyrydenko was likely to take up the post of ambassador to the United States, adding that "That means she will leave the post of prime minister and the entire government will be reshuffled,".

The Kyiv Independent described the resignation as surprising to some lawmakers in Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, quoting a lawmaker as saying, "It's a strange situation,".

AP News

Zelensky said he discussed the details with Svyrydenko and that implementing these changes requires a renewal of the Cabinet of Ministers.

In her statement on social media, Svyrydenko said she was "proud to have had the honor of leading the government during one of the most difficult periods in Ukraine's modern history."

AP reported that Zelensky met with senior officials following the announcement, including Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Zelensky said the new political strategy would focus on priority foreign policy directions, with each direction overseen by a specific person with substantial experience.

Al Jazeera reported Zelensky said the strategy would include agreements to manufacture Patriot air defence systems under licence, advancing Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership and deepening ties with the Gulf region.

The Kyiv Independent said Zelensky’s foreign policy priorities also included agreements with the U.S. to license Patriot air defense missile production, the European anti-ballistic missile project, and Ukraine’s EU accession process.

In the same reshuffle context, AP reported that elsewhere a Ukrainian attack in southwest Russia killed one person and wounded three more, with the head of Russia’s Samara region, Gov. Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, saying that a child was among the injured.

AP also said Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed it attacked the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk in Ukraine’s Odesa region, while Ukrainian officials had not yet commented on the claims.