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Ukraine Approves New Wartime Cabinet in First Major Reshuffle Since Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion
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![Photo of Tommy Syrmolotov]( "Photo of Tommy Syrmolotov")
Ukraine’s parliament approved a new wartime cabinet led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, completing the country’s first full government reshuffle since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has approved a new government led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, completing a major reshuffle aimed at strengthening the country’s defense capabilities, deepening ties with the United States, and streamlining state governance during wartime.
A total of 253 lawmakers supported the full cabinet lineup, Unian reported on July 17, with separate votes held later in the day for the ministers of defense and foreign affairs. The confirmation follows the resignation of Denys Shmyhal’s government on July 16, concluding his five-year term as prime minister.
Svyrydenko, who became Ukraine’s first female prime minister in more than 15 years and only the second in the country’s history, was nominated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week and formally tasked with forming a new team.
The approved government includes a mix of new figures and returning ministers:
Mykhailo Fedorov – Serving as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Fedorov has been the driving force behind Ukraine’s rapid digital reforms, including the widely used Diia e-governance platform.
Oleksii Kuleba – As Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery and Minister of Communities and Territories Development, Kuleba oversees Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction efforts and regional development strategies.
Taras Kachka – Appointed Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Kachka is tasked with steering Ukraine’s EU accession process and strengthening ties with NATO.
Matvii Bidnyi – Minister of Youth and Sports, Bidnyi is responsible for shaping national youth policy and supporting Ukrainian athletes amid wartime challenges.
Herman Halushchenko – Recently appointed Minister of Justice, Halushchenko previously served as Energy Minister and is known for his legal expertise and administrative leadership.
Svitlana Hrynchuk – As Minister of Energy, Hrynchuk leads Ukraine’s efforts to stabilize the energy grid under wartime conditions and expand renewable energy initiatives.
Nataliia Kalmykova – Minister for Veterans Affairs, Kalmykova focuses on supporting the reintegration, rehabilitation, and benefits of Ukraine’s growing community of war veterans.
Ihor Klymenko – Minister of Internal Affairs, Klymenko oversees domestic security, law enforcement, and emergency response, playing a key role in maintaining order during wartime.
Oksen Lisovyi – As Minister of Education and Science, Lisovyi leads efforts to keep Ukraine’s education system functioning during the war and promote academic reforms.
Viktor Liashko – Serving as Minister of Health, Liashko has been central to Ukraine’s COVID-19 response and continues to oversee the country’s healthcare system amid war-related pressures.
Serhii Marchenko – As Minister of Finance, Marchenko manages Ukraine’s wartime budget, coordinates international aid, and implements fiscal policies to sustain the economy.
Oleksii Soboliev – Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, Soboliev is responsible for balancing Ukraine’s economic recovery with sustainable agricultural and environmental policies.
Denys Uliutin – As Minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity, Uliutin oversees social protection programs, family welfare, and efforts to strengthen national cohesion during wartime.
Andrii Sybiha – Reappointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs with 271 votes, Sybiha is a veteran diplomat and former deputy head of the Presidential Office, now leading Ukraine’s global diplomatic outreach.
Denys Shmyhal, the outgoing prime minister, was confirmed as Minister of Defense with 267 votes. He replaces Rustem Umerov.
Addressing lawmakers during the plenary session, President Zelenskyy said the reshuffle is intended to bolster Ukraine’s strength and enable a new phase of cooperation with the United States.
He called for a full audit of all international agreements, memoranda, and defense-related programs to ensure they are implemented entirely in Ukraine’s national interest.
“There will be new agreements with the United States that will strengthen Ukraine’s position and require changes in our diplomatic engagement with America,” Zelenskyy said.
The president outlined three key principles for Ukraine’s economic and institutional transformation: full deregulation and removal of bureaucratic duplication, mobilization of civil society and international support, and strengthened accountability for those undermining state capacity or stealing public resources.
“The renewal of the Cabinet of Ministers—and of the Ukrainian state system more broadly—will ensure the implementation of these priorities,” Zelenskyy said. “Ukraine will gain more of its own strength.”
In a public address following her appointment, Svyrydenko pledged to lead a results-driven government focused on self-sufficiency across military, economic, and social sectors. Her policy priorities include ramping up domestic weapons production, reducing pressure on businesses, and expanding large-scale privatization.
“No political loyalty—only numbers and results,” she said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to efficient spending and institutional accountability.
