On July 17, a new Cabinet of Ministers was appointed in Ukraine. This decision sparked significant public and expert discussion regarding legality, political motives, and the shifting power dynamics among various groups.
During a discussion at the Centre for Public Analytics “Vezha” with experts Valerii Klochuk and Ihor Reiterovych, legal aspects of appointing a government under martial law were analyzed. Parliamentary legal experts confirmed such changes are lawful as long as the institution itself is not dissolved but individual appointments are changed.
Yulia Svyrydenko was appointed as the new Prime Minister, while Denys Shmyhal, the former head of government, became the Minister of Defense. Motivations for these shifts included the need to send informational signals to both domestic and international partners and to strengthen particular power groups within government. It was noted that the legitimacy of the Cabinet is ensured by confirmation from the Verkhovna Rada.
Experts highlighted the ongoing rivalry between the president's team, the Yermak group, and key figures such as Fedorov. Parliamentary voting showed that the ruling “Servant of the People” party lacked enough votes for a single-party majority.
In summary, experts predict the new government will operate until the war ends, with its effectiveness to be assessed during the first months in office. Maintaining balance among power groups and building strong international partnerships remain priorities.
