Ukraine's Zelenskyy picks energy boss Koretskyi as PM, defence minister bows out
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has nominated Serhii Koretskyi, head of state gas giant Naftogaz, as Ukraine's next prime minister, with parliament expected to vote on Thursday. The move caps a week of upheaval that also sees Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov step down after just six months in the post.
Prime minister nominated
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted the nomination of Serhii Koretskyi, the CEO of state energy company Naftogaz, to parliament on Wednesday. Koretskyi was singled out by Zelenskyy at an earlier press conference as especially suited to steer the country through the coming winter, a period when Russian attacks on power infrastructure are expected to intensify. Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefantschuk confirmed the filing on Facebook and said lawmakers would examine it "shortly according to the established procedure."
The parliament will examine it shortly according to the established procedure.
A vote is anticipated as soon as Thursday. The nomination follows the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Sunday, which the Rada accepted on Tuesday, automatically dissolving the entire cabinet.
Defence minister steps down
Mykhailo Fedorov, who had led the Defence Ministry only since January, signalled on Wednesday evening that he would not be put forward again. In a telegram post he wrote: "It was a great honor to serve the Ukrainian people as defence minister." He also posted photographs from his tenure, including one with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. Fedorov said he regretted not having dismissed more staff who had slowed reforms. Before publishing the post, he held a conversation with Zelenskyy, who under the constitution holds the right to propose the defence portfolio.
It was a great honor to serve the Ukrainian people as defence minister.
The 35-year-old, the youngest ever to hold the post, was the third defence minister to leave since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian media cited a conflict with army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi as one factor, as well as Fedorov's failure to resolve problems with forced mobilisation. Barely a week ago, about 200 people attacked a recruitment command in Lviv and damaged a service vehicle. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko is widely expected to replace Fedorov, though no formal nomination has been announced.
- President Zelenskyy announces cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Svyrydenko resigns.
- Parliament accepts Svyrydenko's resignation, entire cabinet automatically dismissed.
- Defence Minister Fedorov publishes farewell message, Zelenskyy submits Koretskyi's nomination.
- Parliament expected to vote on Koretskyi as prime minister.
Drone procurement surge
In a lengthy telegram statement Fedorov enumerated his ministry's successes, and in a second, shorter statement he listed his failures. One concrete achievement he highlighted was the acceleration of drone production and deployment. The ministry had procured more drones in four months than in the entire previous year, a critical capability on a battlefield where unmanned systems have become essential.
Ambassador exits amid corruption probe
A further casualty of the reshuffle is Olha Stefanischyna, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States. Unconfirmed reports say she left the diplomatic service because of corruption investigations into a property purchase made in 2022, when she served as minister for EU and NATO integration. Stefanischyna had been in the Washington post only since August 2025. Former prime minister Svyrydenko is reportedly being considered to succeed her.
Overnight missiles on Kyiv
Separately, the Russian military fired at least eight ballistic missiles at Kyiv in two waves overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said strikes hit a warehouse in the west of the city and an uninhabited house in an eastern district, causing fires. The attack underscored the relentless pressure on the capital as Zelenskyy attempts to overhaul his government.
