First published in Deník N.

Ukraine is set to appoint a fresh prime minister and likely a new defence minister. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly demonstrated willingness to replace officials even when performance seems solid. His prior moves have generally delivered positive results.

Over the weekend, news from Zelensky stirred public discussion inside and outside Ukraine. The cabinet overhaul is confirmed, bringing a new prime minister, new ministers and shifts in key security roles.

The prime minister era closes

Initial expert reactions remain cautious yet acknowledge the president's wartime drive. His readiness for bold personnel shifts shows no sign of slowing.

Details behind the latest decisions stayed vague. Zelensky stressed the need for genuine specialists in every role, implying prior appointments fell short.

“Ukraine is adjusting its political approach. Each foreign-policy priority will now rest with an experienced figure able to deliver on leader-level agreements and public expectations,” Zelensky stated on 12 July, less than a year after naming Yulia Svyrydenko prime minister. Her government may not reach its first anniversary on 17 July.

Ukrainian BBC journalists, citing unnamed presidential-office sources, reported that such sweeping changes had been discussed “for some time.”

Zelensky voiced particular frustration with the justice, education and digitalisation ministries.

Prime minister to diplomat, director to chief of staff

The prime minister herself confirmed the biggest surprise by revealing an offer of another post, widely expected to be the ambassadorship to the United States.

Washington remains Ukraine's most critical diplomatic posting, though the new ambassador's duties will centre on logistics, scheduling and presidential meetings rather than policy formulation.

“I remain ready to serve Ukraine,” she posted on Facebook.

Current ambassador Olha Stefanishyna has cited “personal reasons” for her departure. According to MP Olexander Honcharenko, she has returned to Kyiv and faces impending anti-corruption charges. Like Svyrydenko, she lasted under a year.

Although Svyrydenko ranked among Zelensky's preferred aides, MPs recently criticised her limited parliamentary engagement and alleged over-promising to the International Monetary Fund. No public speculation about her replacement had surfaced earlier.

The identity of the next prime minister remains undisclosed, though several names circulate.

Leading candidate Sergii Koretskyi, director of Naftogaz, possesses deep knowledge of Ukraine's energy strengths and vulnerabilities. Energy security is expected to dominate the autumn war phase as Russia targets the power grid. Zelensky met Koretskyi shortly before the reshuffle announcement, lending weight to the reports.

He also summoned former prime minister and current energy minister Denys Shmyhal, whose name also features in speculation. Both frontrunners share energy-sector backgrounds.

Since taking office, Zelensky has seen four prime ministers serve.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, he has changed the prime minister twice. He has also replaced the armed-forces commander-in-chief and the defence minister during the war.

September 2022: First major cabinet shake-up removes defence minister Oleksii Reznikov.
September 2024: Broad reshuffle includes foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba's exit.
July 2025: Prime minister Shmyhal dismissed; Yuliia Svyrydenko appointed.
July 2026: Zelensky announces another wide-ranging overhaul covering the prime minister and security-agency leadership.

Ukrainian journalists report that virtually the entire cabinet will be replaced.

Education minister Oksen Lisovyi, respected by frontline troops, reportedly failed to ease tensions in border regions or align Ukrainian and neighbour views on minority-language schooling, such as for Hungarian communities.

Some commentators view dissatisfaction with Lisovyi as proof that battlefield success does not guarantee administrative effectiveness. Lisovyi previously led a school for gifted children and faced parliamentary criticism despite that background.

Zelensky also faulted several ministers handling foreign policy, signalling that stronger Western backing is essential to victory and that partners must accelerate delivery on commitments.

Creativity gaps and humility shortfalls

Commentator Konstantin Skorkin found the announcement unexpected. “Even many team members learned of it via Telegram,” he told the BBC.

Skorkin noted Svyrydenko had avoided major criticism and was viewed as a loyal technocrat. “Perhaps a more inventive prime minister is now required,” he suggested.

Replacing defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov made sense, Skorkin added, because the technocrat's rising political profile and presidential speculation may have prompted Zelensky to seek a lower-key successor.

Skorkin observed that Zelensky uses leadership changes to preserve dynamism. “Above all, no stagnation,” the analyst said.

Additional candidates surface

Frequent cabinet turnover has invited jokes. Commentator Olexandr Notevskyi quipped that Shmyhal should serve as prime minister in even-numbered years and rotate to another ministry in odd years.

Although most analysts believe Zelensky favours the Naftogaz director, other names include Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov, who could apply his experience managing Russian attacks on a diverse city to roles in regional development or reconstruction.

Zelensky also plans diplomatic-corps changes, intending to dispatch new envoys to European capitals. “We need a new level of cooperation with our partners to ensure that agreements on arms supplies are fulfilled,” he said, stressing faster implementation of verbal pledges.

Pressing Europe to deliver

BBC sources indicate the new ministers and diplomats aim to halt further deterioration in Poland relations, which critics attribute largely to Zelensky, and to revive stalled cooperation with Hungary.

Zelensky also seeks to address doubts over whether a promised US licence for Patriot-missile production will activate before the war ends.

“It is also about support packages for Ukraine that were announced but have still not been fully implemented,” he noted, urging diplomats to press European partners more assertively.

Two contenders in the presidential arena

Attention in such upheavals often centres on former armed-forces commander Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, now ambassador to the United Kingdom and a leading potential election rival according to polls.

Presidential elections are discussed more frequently amid the reshuffle, viewed by many as preparation for an autumn vote, though presidential-office sources deny this.

During Zaluzhnyi's last Kyiv visit, the president's team probed his election intentions. According to Ukrajinska pravda, the general told Zelensky directly he would run.

Zelensky argued that favourable front-line conditions allowed gradual election preparations but warned that a contest could fracture national unity. The risk of a Zelensky-Zaluzhnyi matchup lay in creating opposing camps, he said.

The meeting concluded with a handshake and both men holding their positions.

It remains unclear whether the current reshuffle will involve Zaluzhnyi. Ukrainian sources report no alternative post is under consideration for the general at present.