Yulia Svyrydenko Appointed Ukraine’s Prime Minister as Zelensky Launches Cabinet Overhaul

Ukraine’s parliament has officially appointed Yulia Svyrydenko as the country’s new Prime Minister, securing 262 votes in favor during Thursday’s session of the Verkhovna Rada.

The vote comes amid a sweeping government reshuffle initiated by President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this week. Svyrydenko, 39, previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy.

Svyrydenko becomes only the second woman to serve as Ukraine’s head of government. She shares a first name with her predecessor, Yulia Tymoshenko, who held the post in 2005 and again from 2007 to 2010.

Economist-Turned-Leader Takes the Helm

Svyrydenko has held the economy portfolio since November 2021 and has played a central role in Ukraine’s wartime economic strategy. She was at the forefront of recent negotiations with Washington over access to rare earth minerals, a contentious deal that temporarily strained relations between Kyiv and the Biden administration.

Born in Chernihiv in 1985, she began her political career in regional government. By age 32, she had become Deputy Head of the Chernihiv Regional Administration, and at 33, she briefly led the region as Governor.

Svyrydenko entered the national government in 2020 as Deputy Economy Minister. She was promoted to the Cabinet shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Shmyhal Out, Defense Role Expected

Her appointment follows the formal dismissal of former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Wednesday, ending his five-year tenure. Shmyhal submitted his resignation on Tuesday and is widely expected to be appointed as Ukraine’s next Defense Minister.

Other Topics of Interest

Zelensky: Belarus Builds Military Infrastructure Along Ukraine’s Border, Cites Russian Influence

Zelensky says Ukrainian intelligence shows Crimea’s fuel and logistics crisis is deepening daily, while Belarus is building military infrastructure along Ukraine’s border, identifying five possible border locations.

Several more Cabinet changes are expected in the coming days. Health Minister Viktor Liashko, who has held his post since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, is reportedly among those set to be replaced.

Earlier this week, President Zelensky called for a renewed government that would be “more dynamic, more focused on victory, and more responsive to public demand.”

For more background on Yulia Svyrydenko and what her leadership could mean for Ukraine, see Kyiv Post’s previous article.