Government reshuffle Ukraine: Zelensky wants to replace Svyrydenko

Justification: foreign policy realignment

Zelensky justified the move with a foreign policy realignment. Ukraine is in the process of changing its political strategy, he wrote. On Telegram, he also explained: "We have determined that a renewal of the cabinet of ministers is necessary for the change." The government renewal is therefore intended to provide new impetus in order to strengthen relations with important partners.

At the same time, the president announced that he would offer Svyrydenko a new task in the area of relations with a key partner. He had offered her the opportunity to take on a new and important area of relations with a key partner, Zelensky wrote. In his statement, he expressly thanked Svyrydenko: He was grateful to Svyrydenko for her clear, reliable, and effective work.

Parliament must approve

Under Ukrainian law, the dismissal of the prime minister requires the approval of parliament. Zelensky expressed the expectation that the Verkhovna Rada would support the proposed change of government. He initially did not name a candidate to succeed Svyrydenko as prime minister.

Ukrainian media, including the newspaper Ukrainska Pravda, reported that talks on the succession had already taken place. Among the candidates mentioned for the post of head of government is, according to these reports, Sergii Koretskyj, head of the state energy company Naftogaz. The presidential office initially provided no official information on personnel proposals.

Domestic political tensions as background

The background to the renewed reshuffle is also an increasingly strained relationship between members of parliament and the government. Over the past year, parliament had criticized the government's communication of decisions as well as the filling of ministerial posts. Observers see this as an indication that the move is motivated not only by foreign policy but also by domestic political considerations.

Just over a year ago, there had already been a comprehensive cabinet reshuffle, which Zelensky at the time justified with new economic impulses. In previous years as well, the Ukrainian government had been repeatedly reshuffled, in part due to corruption allegations. The current move thus falls in a phase of repeated personnel renewal in Kyiv.

Security agencies also affected

According to Zelensky's words, not only the office of the head of government is to be filled anew. The leadership of some law enforcement agencies is also to be replaced, he announced. In doing so, the president is extending the personnel changes beyond the top of government to the security apparatus.

The announcement comes amid a phase of intense Russian airstrikes on Ukraine. Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko said over the weekend that the attacks with Russian ballistic missiles were worse than ever before. He said he had experienced nothing comparable since the start of the war and accused Russia of apparently wanting to bomb Kyiv to pieces now before winter begins.

Context: Ongoing Russian attacks

According to local authorities, at least four people were killed in renewed Russian attacks overnight into Sunday alone. On July 11, 2026, a total of eight people were killed and 30 others injured when Russian missiles, drones, and glide bombs hit several Ukrainian cities, according to official figures. According to Kyiv's account, Ukrainian drones are said to have attacked 21 Russian oil tankers in the Sea of Azov overnight into Saturday.

In parallel with the government reshuffle, Zelensky announced that those responsible in the state arms industry would be held accountable after deadly explosions had occurred in a residential area near Kyiv. An investigation had identified which managers of the state arms conglomerate Ukroboronprom had approved the use of a storage building near a residential area, which violates applicable law and military orders.

Response to explosions in residential area

Zelensky also paid tribute to the deceased US Senator Lindsey Graham, who, in his words, had visited Ukraine ten times since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion. He had stood by the Ukrainian people when this was most urgently needed, Zelensky wrote. Graham had accompanied Ukraine as a determined supporter and advocate of a hard line toward Russia.

Overall, the announced reshuffle makes clear that, in wartime, Zelensky is banking on ongoing personnel and strategic renewal. With the planned replacement of Svyrydenko and the additional filling of top posts in the security apparatus, the president is pursuing the goal of realigning the government's work in foreign policy terms while at the same time responding to domestic political tensions.

The report was broadcast on July 12, 2026 on Deutschlandfunk. It is based on information from the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) as well as Ukrainian and international sources.

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