Why Zelenskyy suddenly removed his own Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, less than a year into the job

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday he plans to replace Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko after just a year in office. The move triggers the resignation of the entire government, as required under Ukrainian law.

What Zelenskyy said

Zelenskyy did not name Svyrydenko’s replacement. He also did not say what her next role would be. He said changes are coming to the heads of law enforcement agencies too. Also, he called the reshuffle part of an “updated political strategy” but gave few details.

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Zelenskyy said Ukraine is changing its political strategy. He said each foreign policy priority will be overseen by one experienced person who can deliver results. He named a few priority areas. These include defence cooperation with the US and Europe, EU integration, and relations with Poland and Hungary.

He thanked Svyrydenko for her work. He said he offered her a new role handling relations with a key partner country.

Svyrydenko’s response

Svyrydenko responded after meeting Zelenskyy. She said she remains ready to serve Ukraine and to carry out any task that strengthens the country’s position, defends its national interests, and brings a just peace closer.

Two people familiar with the matter said she is likely to become Ukraine’s ambassador to Washington. She built strong ties with officials in the Trump administration while working on the US-Ukraine minerals deal. The current ambassador, Olha Stefanishyna, is expected to leave that post. She faces an ongoing investigation into a Kyiv apartment her family bought at a price well below market value.

Svyrydenko’s background

Svyrydenko is an economist. She became prime minister in July 2025, taking over from Denys Shmyhal. Before that, she spent a year as deputy head of Zelenskyy’s office. She then served four years as deputy prime minister for economic development and trade.

Possible successors

Lawmakers named a few people as possible replacements. These include Shmyhal, who now serves as energy minister. Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is another name mentioned. So is Serhiy Koretskyi, head of state energy company Naftogaz.

One opposition lawmaker said Koretskyi has the strongest chance at the job. Parliament, controlled by Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party, is expected to approve the new cabinet in the coming weeks.

Corruption scandal backdrop

The reshuffle comes after Ukraine’s largest corruption scandal in years. Known as the Midas case, it centers on an alleged $100 million kickback scheme at state nuclear power company Energoatom. The case led to the resignation of the head of the presidential administration. Authorities have named Zelenskyy’s former business partner Timur Mindich as the scheme’s alleged leader. They also named former chief of staff Andriy Yermak as a suspect.

Reaction

Oleksandr Merezhko, an MP from Zelenskyy’s party who chairs the parliamentary foreign policy committee, called the timing unexpected. He said a reshuffle had been rumored for months but was expected in autumn. He linked the move to Russia’s escalating attacks on Ukraine’s power grid and the need to strengthen ties with Washington amid a shortage of Patriot air defense systems.

The announcement follows Zelenskyy’s meeting with President Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara last Wednesday. There, Trump agreed to let Ukraine produce Patriot interceptor missiles under license, a key request from Kyiv.