Zelensky announces extensive government reshuffle: Naftogaz chief Korezkyj to become new prime minister

Zelensky justified the reshuffle by citing "new challenges and new tasks" and pointed to the country's preparations for winter and energy security in light of the ongoing Russian attacks on infrastructure. In a statement on Wednesday in Kyiv, he added: "The priorities are clear – preparations for winter". Of Koretskyj, the president said: "After all consultations, Korezkyj is the most suitable candidate for the office."

The decision comes at a time when Russia is systematically pressuring Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Just on the night leading into Wednesday, Kyiv was attacked again with ballistic missiles. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, at least eight missiles were fired at the city of three million in two waves. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported hits in two districts, with a warehouse in the west and an uninhabited house in the east catching fire.

Ongoing Russian attacks on infrastructure

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian attacks killed at least five people and injured several others, according to the governor. In the city of Zaporizhzhia alone, three people died and 15 were injured, according to official figures. The city lies just over 20 kilometers from the front line.

A change is also imminent at the defense ministry: Fedorov is to be replaced by Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. Fedorov had taken over the ministry in January 2026 and previously led the Ministry of Digital Transformation, created by Zelensky, since 2019. During his 2019 election campaign, he had run the media campaign for the current president. In a lengthy statement on Telegram, Fedorov listed the achievements of his tenure; in a second, shorter post, he addressed his own mistakes.

Change at the Defense Ministry

Reasons cited for Fedorov's removal include reports of a conflict with Chief of the General Staff Olexander Syrskyj as well as unresolved problems concerning forced mobilization. Roughly one week earlier, about 200 people attacked a recruitment office in Lviv in western Ukraine and damaged an official vehicle. Fedorov wrote on Telegram and X that it was "a great honor to serve the Ukrainian people as defense minister". This marks the fourth defense minister to be replaced since the start of the Russian war of aggression in February 2022.

Parallel to the government reshuffle, the current ambassador to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna, is to be replaced. She had only taken up her post in Washington in August 2025. According to media reports, Svyrydenko, the outgoing prime minister, is to succeed her. The trigger for the reshuffle is seen as corruption investigations against Stefanishyna in connection with a real estate purchase from her previous tenure as minister for EU and NATO integration. Zelensky also announced that he intends to replace the heads of some law enforcement agencies, without naming names. The nominations must be confirmed by parliament.

Drone attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

Independent of the political reshuffle, a drone attack on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is causing international concern. Russia accuses Ukraine of killing the chief engineer of the largest European nuclear power plant in a targeted drone strike. The driver of the official vehicle was also killed. The plant, with its six reactors and a nominal capacity of 6,000 megawatts, was seized by Russian troops in March 2022; all reactors have been shut down for safety reasons.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, described the incident as "unacceptable" and demanded on the platform X that all attacks on or near nuclear facilities and their personnel must stop immediately. Rosatom chief Alexej Likhachev stated via Telegram that a drone of the Ukrainian armed forces had attacked an official vehicle at the border between the plant site and the city of Enerhodar. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called on the IAEA to condemn the incident.

Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression in February 2022, Ukrainian lawmakers have largely backed the president. Government reshuffles in Ukraine require parliamentary approval. The constitutional right to nominate the defense minister lies with the president. The vote on Korezkyj's appointment was scheduled to take place on Thursday.

The facts in this report are based on confirmations from Parliamentary Speaker Stefanchuk, President Zelensky, and international sources such as the IAEA and Rosatom. Figures on casualty numbers in Zaporizhzhia are based on reports from regional and municipal authorities.