By Yanki Farber
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday his intention to carry out a significant government shakeup and replace the prime minister. The move comes against the backdrop of battlefield setbacks and a somber national mood as the ongoing war enters its fourth year with no end in sight.
In a statement, Zelensky said he would appoint Yulia Svyrydenko, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister, to the position of Prime Minister. Svyrydenko, who played a key role in negotiating a natural resources agreement with the Trump administration, would replace Denys Shmyhal, who has held the role since the Russian invasion began.
This change, the most senior-level reshuffle since the war broke out, requires parliamentary approval, where Zelensky’s party holds a majority. The president’s announcement of his desire to refresh the government follows months of escalating Russian missile and drone attacks on cities, growing frustrations on the battlefield, and difficulties in ceasefire negotiations previously advanced by the Trump administration. Recent polls indicate rising pessimism in Ukraine about the war’s prospects, in stark contrast to the optimism that prevailed in its early stages.
Zelensky’s political opponents question the nature of the shakeup, claiming that appointing the deputy to the top government post is primarily intended to place a loyal figure close to Zelensky, thereby strengthening the president’s power under the emergency regime. Accusations against Zelensky of exploiting martial law powers—which were enacted at the onset of the Russian invasion and remain in effect—have intensified, particularly following the replacement of several elected mayors with military administrators.
Svyrydenko had been in charge of talks with the Trump administration over a controversial agreement to share profits from Ukraine’s natural resources—an agreement Trump had demanded as a condition for further military cooperation. Zelensky noted that he discussed with her plans to expand domestic weapons production—a key goal of the war effort—and to bolster the social safety net.
Ukraine’s constitution grants the prime minister broad domestic powers. In the past, prime ministers have occasionally acted independently, but Zelensky’s party currently dominates parliament. Political analysts see the move as an attempt by Zelensky to consolidate his position ahead of a potential peace agreement that may be unpopular.
Vitaliy Klitschko, mayor of Kyiv and a long-time political rival of Zelensky, sharply criticized the move, claiming the government is sliding toward “corrupt authoritarianism” reminiscent of Russia’s system of governance, and warned of a “serious threat to democracy.”
