Zelenskyy announces cabinet reshuffle, replaces Prime Minister Svyrydenko

Kyiv announced on Thursday that Yulia Svyrydenko will leave her post as first deputy prime minister for European integration and minister of economic development, part of a cabinet reshuffle designed to sharpen the government’s focus on foreign policy and security. In a brief statement, Svyrydenko said she was stepping down to make way for a new team better suited to the evolving challenges posed by Russia’s ongoing aggression and Ukraine’s diplomatic priorities. The decision follows President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for a “strategic re‑orientation” of the executive branch, emphasizing the need for tighter coordination between economic policy and the country’s war effort.

The reshuffle, which also sees changes in the defence and foreign ministries, is intended to consolidate decision‑making on matters of national security and international support. Analysts note that the move reflects Kyiv’s intent to streamline its response to the conflict while bolstering ties with European partners and multilateral institutions. Svyrydenko’s departure will be followed by the appointment of a successor who will continue to oversee economic reforms within the new security‑focused framework, underscoring the administration’s commitment to aligning domestic policy with its overarching foreign‑policy and defence objectives.