Ukraine parliament approves Naftogaz CEO Sergii Koretskyi as new prime minister

Parliament approves new prime minister

Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada voted 289 in favour on Thursday to confirm Sergii Koretskyi as the country's new prime minister, well above the 226 votes required. The nomination was presented to parliament by speaker Ruslan Stefanciuk after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy proposed Koretskyi on Wednesday. Koretskyi becomes the third wartime head of government since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, succeeding Yulia Svyrydenko. She submitted her resignation on Tuesday, which parliament accepted, after Zelenskiy announced a government reshuffle on Sunday. Svyrydenko is expected to be appointed to another position.

We have gone through the most difficult winter and ensured uninterrupted gas supply for Ukrainians, despite critical losses of our own production. We have demonstrated that public management can and must be efficient.

A technocrat with no political baggage

Koretskyi, 48, is an engineer and economist by training with more than 20 years in the energy sector. He has led Naftogaz, Ukraine's state oil and gas giant, since May 2025, and previously headed Ukrnafta, the country's largest oil company and a Naftogaz subsidiary. Before joining state-owned enterprises, he ran the Western Oil Group, served as CEO of the Continuum Group, and led the WOG filling station chain, one of Ukraine's largest. Born in Lutsk, he also founded a coffee chain business. He has never held a government post and is not affiliated with any political party, a neutrality that analysts say could work in his favour. Volodymyr Fesenko, director of the Penta think tank, noted that his reputation as a capable manager without political ties gives him an edge.

Winter preparation and EU integration top the agenda

Addressing lawmakers before the vote, Koretskyi outlined his immediate priorities: preparing the country for the coming winter, supporting the armed forces, aiding frontline communities, maintaining economic stability through business support, strengthening international partnerships, and advancing EU accession. Zelenskiy had described him as "the best prepared person" to lead the government, particularly with winter looming after last season's heavy Russian bombardment of energy infrastructure. Koretskyi told deputies he would do everything in his power to be useful to the state "here and now."

Efficiency depends above all on people, responsibility, professionalism and honest rules. These are precisely the principles I want to bring.

Reshuffle triggers protests over defence minister

The parliamentary vote was overshadowed by street protests in Kyiv and other cities. Hundreds of Ukrainians gathered hours after Russian missile strikes on Thursday morning to oppose the dismissal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who announced his departure on Wednesday evening. Fedorov, appointed in January, was seen as a reformer focused on integrating new technologies at the front to save soldiers' lives. The demonstrations reflect public unease over the broader cabinet overhaul initiated by Zelenskiy four days ago.

Defence portfolio still undecided

During parliamentary debate, Koretskyi was pressed on the future defence minister. He praised Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko, widely considered the frontrunner for the post, calling him "a strong, professional and efficient minister." Koretskyi said he had observed the Interior Ministry's work closely during the difficult winter period. However, he stressed that the appointment of the defence minister is the president's exclusive prerogative and declined to say whether Fedorov would stay on, asking lawmakers to first confirm his own premiership.