Zelensky names new PM as he shakes up cabinet in bid to reinvigorate war effort
Yulia Svyrydenko has become the country's first new head of government since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Ms Svyrydenko is one of a group of officials taking on new roles in Ukraine's government, as President Volodymyr Zelensky reshuffles the Cabinet in a bid to energise a war-weary nation and boost domestic weapons production in the face of Russia's grinding invasion.
At home, however, the cabinet recalibration has not been seen as a major shift, as the Ukrainian leader continues to rely on officials who have proven their effectiveness and loyalty during the war, now in its fourth year.
Mr Zelensky submitted nominations on Thursday to shuffle top government positions, including the replacement of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the longest-serving head of government in Ukraine's history.
Mr Shmyhal now moves to become defence minister, according to the parliamentary website.
Other changes are expected in the cabinet, but Ms Svyrydenko's appointment as prime minister is taking centre-stage.
She played a key role in negotiating a US–Ukraine mineral agreement, ensuring the terms were acceptable to Kyiv. Ms Svyrydenko has frequently represented Ukraine in high-level talks with western partners, focusing on defence co-operation, economic recovery and reconstruction.
Politicians and fellow officials describe her as a diligent executive with a reputation for loyalty to the presidential office.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Luis Diaz's Bayern deal moves €100m transfer closer
Liverpool completed a deal earlier this week which sees Luis Diaz join Bayern Munich for around £65m. The Colombian winger's contract was ticking down - set to expire in 2027 - and so Richard Hughes took the decision to let him go. 🔴 Shop the LFC Store LFC x adidas Shop the home range today! LFC x adidas Shop the goalkeeper range today LFC x adidas Shop the new adidas range today! Arne Slot's squad is well covered in the left-wing area despite the loss of Diaz. Cody Gakpo performs best on the left side of attack and Rio Ngumoha looks set to receive significant minutes in that sector next season. 🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas away range from 9am TODAY Don't forget Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike either. Those two former Bundesliga stars are multifaceted attackers - who Liverpool decision-makers see as potential solutions on the left side. Mac Allister upset over Diaz sale You can add the proceeds of Diaz's £65m sale to the Bavarians to the cash pile being readied for a SECOND bid for Alexander Isak too. In short, this transfer has plenty of upsides - even if Liverpool must find 13 Premier League goals from someone else next season. All is rosy in the garden? Not quite. Because now a report comes in from Spain which suggests Alexis Mac Allister is dismayed at the sale of his fellow South American. Mac Allister, 26, posted on social media earlier this week that he was in tears following Diaz's departure. And now Defensa Central claims that the Argentina World Cup winner is considering his future at the club. Real Madrid want Mac Allister 'The Argentine is very upset with the sale of Luis Diaz, whom he considered his brother at Liverpool,' the report states. Now it must be borne in mind that this outlet is very much biased towards Real Madrid. And if they spot an opportunity to send a transfer target towards the Bernabeu then they will take it. It's been reported that Mac Allister is a favourite of Xabi Alonso - and he was just as admired by previous Madrid coaching incumbent Carlo Ancelotti. Madrid are certainly sniffing around and are still in need of a proper successor Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
Washington Post
27 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Deep Reads: Cracks in the dream
The Vitals had settled in Springfield from Haiti during President Donald Trump's first term and saved money through the Biden administration. Business leaders in their reliably red county praised immigrants for reviving the local economy. Americans struggled to pass drug tests, one factory boss told a TV news crew. Not Haitians. Fernande Vital earned $21 an hour at a Japanese automotive plant, monitoring robots forging car parts, while her husband, Rocher, led a strip-mall church. Even as the GOP and some of their neighbors called for mass deportations, the Vitals were sure nobody meant them, immigrants here legally. So inJuly of last year, they made a down payment of $8,000, their entire nest egg. In August, they moved in, installed lace curtains and hung a family portrait in the dining room. One month later came the cracks. This story follows the Vitals after they dealt with the structural woes in their home and their feeling of belonging in this country. Danielle Paquette reported, wrote and narrated the piece. Bishop Sand composed music and produced audio. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ukraine uncovers drone procurement corruption scheme
Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies uncovered a major graft scheme in the procurement of military drones and electronic warfare equipment, two days after their independence was restored in a humiliating U-turn for Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president had pushed through a controversial bill that removed the autonomy of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sapo), placing them under the control of the General Prosecutor's Office, which is led by Zelensky loyalists and mistrusted by many Ukrainians. Thousands of protesters descended onto the streets of Kyiv last week, and there was mounting pressure from top European officials, who warned Ukraine was jeopardising its bid for EU membership. The law was reversed days ago in the Ukrainian parliament and on Saturday, Mr Zelensky announced that the agencies had arrested an MP in his ruling party and the head of a local district administration. 'It is important that anti-corruption institutions operate independently, and the law passed on Thursday guarantees them all the tools necessary for a real fight against corruption,' the Ukrainian president said in a statement posted on X, along with pictures of him meeting with the heads of the agencies. '[Nabu] Director Semen Kryvonos and Head of the [Sapo] Oleksandr Klymenko delivered a report,' he wrote. 'A Ukrainian MP, along with heads of district and city administrations and several National Guard service members, were exposed for bribery. I am grateful to the anti-corruption agencies for their work.' 'There can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork in uncovering it, and ultimately, a fair sentence.' In a statement published by both agencies, Nabu and Sapo also said they had caught a sitting lawmaker, two local officials and an unspecified number of national guard personnel taking bribes. 'Today, a number of operations were carried out to expose individuals involved in committing a corruption-related crime. The essence of the scheme was to conclude state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices,' it said, adding that the offenders had received kickbacks of up to 30 per cent of a contract's cost. Four people have been arrested. A spokesperson for the Nabu agency added that the operation was 'made possible' by the bill which Mr Zelensky signed into law earlier this week, reversing the previous contentious bill. 'This operation is an example of how institutional support and high-level teamwork contribute to real change. We thank the President of Ukraine for supporting the independent anti-corruption infrastructure.' One of the individuals detained was Oleksiy Kuznetsov, an MP from Mr Zelensky's ruling Servant of the People party, the Financial Times reported. Serhiy Haidai, head of the Mukachevo district, was reportedly also arrested. Allies warned Zelensky Mr Zelensky and Andriy Yermak, his powerful chief of staff, had claimed last week that they had rushed through the original bill to counter Russian interference within the corruption agencies. However, critics alleged the step had been designed to protect his political allies from prosecution. Kyiv's western allies, including France, warned the Ukrainian president against following through with the reforms. MPs on Thursday voted 331 to 0 in favour of the new bill in Kyiv's 450-seat legislature to restore their political independence. That was not before two MPs descended into a public brawl in the chamber before others broke up the tussle. Eradicating graft and shoring up the rule of law are key requirements for Kyiv to join the EU, which Ukrainians see as critical to their future as they fend off a Russian invasion. Around 70 MPs from Mr Zelensky's ruling party had expressed doubt over the fresh bill over fears of 'revenge' from the anti-corruption agencies. Zelensky's ruling party had expressed doubt over the fresh bill over fears of 'revenge' from the anti-corruption agencies. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
