'To renew govt's work': Zelenskyy appoints new Ukraine PM, defence minister; biggest reshuffle since Russia war began

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday carried out the biggest reshuffle in his government since the war with Russia began, as he announced new prime minister and defence minister for his country.

Zelenskyy appointed Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko as the successor to Prime Minister Denys Shmygal, who will now lead the defence ministry.


"I have proposed that Yulia Svyrydenko lead the government of Ukraine and significantly renew its work. I look forward to the presentation of the new government's action plan in the near future," the Ukrainian leader wrote on social media.

In an address later in the day, he announced that Shmygal will be the defence minister.

"Denys Shmygal's vast experience will certainly be useful in the position of Minister of Defence of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said, without providing further detail.

Svyrydenko, 39, gained prominence this year for helping broker a minerals deal with the United States, while Shmygal, 49, had served as prime minister since 2020, steering the Ukrainian government through the Covid-19 pandemic and the start of the Russia war in February 2022.

Shortly after she was announced as the new prime minister, Svyrydenko noted that Ukraine faces a "crucial time" and listed her priorities as "strengthening" the war-hit nation's economy, expanding domestic support programmes, and scaling up weapons production.

Meanwhile, Rustem Umerov, the outgoing defence minister, is expected to be Kyiv's ambassador to Washington D.C.

The appointments come at a pivotal moment in the three-year conflict.

Direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine on ending the fighting have stalled, while the United States announced earlier that it would boost military support for Kyiv in a major reversal by Donald Trump of his predecessor Joe Biden's policy.