Ukraine’s Government Shake-Up: Who Could Join the New Cabinet

Ukraine is preparing for a major government reshuffle, with MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak outlining the likely composition of the new Cabinet of Ministers. According to his assessment, Naftogaz CEO Serhiy Koretsky remains the leading candidate to become the country’s next prime minister.

He wrote about this on Telegram.

According to Zheleznyak, the most likely candidate for the position of Prime Minister is Serhiy Koretsky.

At the same time, according to the people’s deputy, the following may retain their positions:

• • First Deputy Prime Minister—Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal;

• • Deputy Prime Minister for Culture Tetyana Berezhna;

• • Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko;

• • Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko;

• • Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidny;

• • Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiga;

• • Minister of Social Policy Denis Ulyutin;

• • Minister of Veterans Affairs Natalia Kalmykova.

Zheleznyak also reported that new personnel changes are being prepared in the government. In particular, according to him, the Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi, may be dismissed, and his place may be taken by Mykola Trofymenko.

In addition, according to the deputy, a change of the deputy prime minister for European integration is being prepared. According to him, Taras Kachka may be replaced by Ukraine’s representative to the European Union, Vsevolod Chentsov.

Also, according to Zheleznyak, the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture is planned for reorganization. The ministry may be divided into two separate departments:

• • The Ministry of Economy and Ecology, which could be headed by Oleksiy Sobolev;

• • The Ministry of Agrarian Policy, which could be headed by Taras Vysotsky.

According to the deputy, the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development may also be reorganized. Oleksiy Kuleba, according to Zheleznyak, will leave the government, and the department is planned to be divided into the following:

• • The Ministry of Regional Development, which could be headed by Vitaly Bezgin;

• • The Ministry of Infrastructure, whose head has not yet been identified.

Zheleznyak also noted that the Ministry of Digital Transformation may be headed by Valeriy Ionan, but this will depend on the further fate of the current Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, in terms of personnel.

Separately, the deputy reported that Denis Maslov is being considered as a candidate for the position of minister of justice.

At the same time, LB.ua, citing its own sources, reported that the current Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, could become the new Minister of Defense.

According to sources close to the Ministry of Internal Affairs leadership, the publication reports that such a decision may be related to a desire to improve the mobilization situation. However, sources connected to the President’s Office claim that the personnel changes may be due to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s dissatisfaction with the work of the current Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov.

As is known, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced a change in the political strategy of the state and announced personnel changes in the government and law enforcement agencies. According to him, the update should ensure the implementation of new domestic and foreign policy priorities.

It is worth noting that since the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, a new head of government has not yet been officially appointed. According to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, 4 possible candidates for the position of prime minister are currently being considered.

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