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Ukraine’s Parliament Approves Denys Shmyhal as Ukraine’s First Deputy PM and Energy Minister

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Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko
Dariia Mykhailenko
News Writer
Denys Shmyhal addresses lawmakers during a plenary session of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada following his appointment to a new government post. (Photo: Denys Shmyhal)
Denys Shmyhal addresses lawmakers during a plenary session of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada following his appointment to a new government post. (Photo: Denys Shmyhal)

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada  has appointed Denys Shmyhal as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine, according to the live broadcast of the parliamentary plenary session on January 14.

Ahead of the vote, Shmyhal outlined his key priorities in the role, naming recovery, resilience, and modernization of the energy sector.

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“The situation in the energy sector remains critically difficult, especially in Kyiv and the Kyiv region, but I also clearly see the challenges in other regions and cities. Attacks continue, frost continues—now more than ever we need to strengthen coordination and responsibility,” he said.

A total of 248 members of parliament voted in favor of the appointment, two voted against, and 20 abstained.

This was the second attempt by the Verkhovna Rada to approve Shmyhal’s appointment. During the initial vote held the previous day, his candidacy failed to secure sufficient support, receiving only 210 votes.

On July 16, 2025, Ukraine’s parliament voted to dismiss Denys Shmyhal from his role as prime minister along with the full Cabinet of Ministers. That same day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy nominated Shmyhal to lead the Ministry of Defense, replacing Rustem Umerov.

In early January, Zelenskyy later put forward Shmyhal for another position, naming him First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy. The president said Ukraine’s energy sector needs a more systematic approach, “so that after every Russian strike we can promptly restore what has been destroyed and ensure the stable development of Ukraine’s energy system.”

Previously, Verkhovna Rada endorsed the appointment of Mykhailo Fedorov as the country’s new minister of defense.

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The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is the unicameral parliament of Ukraine. It consists of 450 deputies presided over by a speaker. The Verkhovna Rada meets in the Verkhovna Rada building in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

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