Ukraine is undergoing sweeping changes in its government. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is expected to step down, with Yuliya Svyrydenko being considered for the top job. Shmyhal’s resignation has been rumored since 2022, and now, it seems, his formal statement of departure is a reality.
According to Article 10 of Ukraine’s Law on Martial Law, the Cabinet should not cease its powers during wartime. However, the regulation's interpretation is debated and the reality of war demands flexibility. The parliament and the ruling Servant of the People party did not take an active part in pre-discussing the new cabinet—the President seems to be presenting lawmakers with a fait accompli.
The main driver for the change is the drop in trust towards the government (from 74% to 39%) and the intention to optimize the system: ministerial posts are expected to be reduced from 20 to 14. Accompanying the structural shake-up will be staff rotations and an increased role for the Presidential Office.
Yuliya Svyrydenko, the current Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, is the top candidate for the premiership. She has set out priorities—boosting Ukraine’s economy, supporting Ukrainians, and developing domestic defense production. Analysts note, however, her cautious and executor style, and lack of large-scale reform experience.
It is planned that Denys Shmyhal may be appointed Minister of Defense—the first time for an ex-PM to assume this role. The current Defense Minister will be assigned as ambassador to the USA, while other ministers will move to diplomatic or administrative positions. Some ministers are expected to keep their portfolios (Fedorov, Liashko, Marchenko).
Structural changes—merging ministries, establishing a government center, cutting bureaucracy—aim to improve management under wartime conditions and reduce red tape. Yet, risks remain: staff shortages, excessive control by the Presidential Office, and stalling of institutional reforms.
Overall, the reshuffle appears to be a move to reset the government’s negative image rather than to implement major change during war. The effectiveness of the new government will be crucial for Ukraine’s resilience and success during the war and postwar reconstruction.
