Zelenskyy backs Naftogaz chief Koretskyi for Ukraine prime minister as cabinet reshuffle looms

Ukraine is set for a new cabinet reshuffle after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sergii Koretskyi, the head of the state energy company Naftogaz, is his preferred candidate to become prime minister. Parliament is expected to vote on the nomination on Thursday, following the resignation of Yulia Svyrydenko, which lawmakers accepted on Tuesday. The move comes as Kyiv prepares for another winter under the threat of Russian strikes on the country's energy grid.

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Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that the priorities were clear and centred on preparing for winter. He described Koretskyi as the most prepared candidate after consultations, and said the change was part of a wider political strategy. Parliament is responsible for naming the prime minister, and Zelenskyy's party holds a majority of seats, making approval of his preferred choice likely.

If parliament confirms Koretskyi, Svyrydenko's departure will automatically trigger the resignation of the entire cabinet. That means a broader reshuffle is expected, with attention already turning to the future of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelenskyy said he would meet Fedorov and military leadership before a planned meeting with lawmakers from the ruling party.

The timing matters because Ukraine is entering a period in which energy security and wartime governance are closely linked. Naftogaz plays a central role in the country's energy system, and the government is preparing for expected attacks on infrastructure during the colder months. Zelenskyy has also tied the reshuffle to wider foreign policy goals, including agreements to manufacture Patriot air defence systems under licence, progress on European Union membership, and deeper ties with Gulf states.

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The change is Ukraine's second cabinet reshuffle in a year and comes during a period of shifting battlefield dynamics. Zelenskyy has said little publicly about the reasons for the latest changes, beyond referring to a new political strategy that requires fresh appointments in government and law enforcement. The expected vote will therefore be watched not only as a personnel decision, but also as a signal of how Kyiv intends to organise its wartime administration.

What remains unclear is the full shape of the new cabinet and whether any other senior ministers will be replaced alongside the prime minister. It is also not yet known how parliament will handle the wider reshuffle once the vote on Thursday takes place. The immediate focus is on whether Koretskyi is confirmed and how quickly the government can adjust before winter pressure on the energy system intensifies.

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