Kyiv, Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that he plans to replace Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko after one year in office, prompting the government’s resignation. He also announced planned changes among the heads of law enforcement agencies.
Government changes
Zelenskiy did not name a proposed successor to Svyrydenko or specify the role he had offered her. He said the changes were needed to “ensure the implementation of an updated political strategy” but provided no further details.
“I am grateful to Yuliia for her clear, steady, and effective work as Prime Minister, for her years of productive service on Ukraine’s team, and I have offered her the opportunity to lead a new and important area of relations with a key partner,” Zelenskiy wrote on X.
“I expect that, together with MPs, we will make the corresponding changes in the Government of Ukraine.”
Svyrydenko’s tenure
Svyrydenko, an economist, was appointed prime minister in July 2025. Before taking the post, she spent a year as deputy head of Zelenskiy’s office and four years as deputy prime minister responsible for economic development and trade.
Zelenskiy did not explain the reasons for the proposed changes in law enforcement leadership.
Corruption case
Over the past year, Ukraine has faced its largest corruption scandal, which led to the resignation of the influential head of the presidential administration.
The Midas case concerns what authorities say was a $100 million kickback scheme at state nuclear power company Energoatom. The case has involved figures close to Zelenskiy and has added pressure on the government as Kyiv seeks to demonstrate to Western allies that it can address high-level corruption.
Authorities have accused Timur Mindich, Zelenskiy’s former business partner, of leading the alleged scheme and named Zelenskiy’s former chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, as a suspect. Both have denied wrongdoing.