Structural changes: Ukraine is waiting for changes in the government
On Monday, July 14, it became known about the upcoming reshuffle in the government of Ukraine, as well as the appointment of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko to the post of Prime Minister of the country. The Cabinet of Ministers under her leadership may be formed as early as July 16, insiders write. Read more about the reshuffle in Ukraine and the new prime minister in the Izvestia article.
Yulia Sviridenko's new government: what is known, government reshuffle
On July 14, it was reported that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (his powers expired on May 20, 2024) had already decided to change the country's government. It was also reported that the current First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko will become Prime Minister instead of Denis Shmygal.
According to reports, a new government may be formed as early as the 16th, this was announced by Verkhovna Rada deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak in his Telegram channel.
"So, a new date for the "great crib reshuffle," or the replacement of the government: July 16," he wrote.
As part of the changes in the government, the current Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denis Shmygal, may take the post of Minister of Defense instead of Rustem Umerov, who, in turn, may presumably become Ukraine's ambassador to the United States.
Zelensky discussed the issue of replacing the ambassador with US President Donald Trump during a telephone conversation on July 4, Bloomberg reported, citing a source. Oksana Markarova has held this position since 2021. She was also present at the scandalous meeting between Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office. Her meaningful gesture during the leaders' exchange quickly became a meme.
According to Verkhovna Rada deputy Anna Skorokhod, this will be the end of the reshuffle. The changes will affect these three positions.
At the time of publication of the article, there is no official confirmation of this information, and the government has not reported on all possible adjustments. However, it is known that the Ministry of National Unity of Ukraine, headed by suspected corruption Alexei Chernyshov, will be liquidated. According to Yaroslav Zheleznyak, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro—Atlantic Integration, Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olga Stefanyshyna, who has fallen into a corruption scandal, may also lose her post. Taras Kachka, the trade representative of Ukraine, may take the position instead. Stefanyshyna, presumably, will be appointed Ukraine's representative to the EU.
Opinions are divided on the legitimacy of the reshuffle. Thus, Verkhovna Rada deputy Mariana Bezuglaya recalled that such decisions are within the powers of the Rada according to the Constitution of Ukraine. Yaroslav Zheleznyak, in turn, wrote that "no one will change the law, but they will just pretend that Article 10 of the Law of Ukraine (Ed.) There is no martial law."
Article 10 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Legal regime of Martial Law" states that during martial law, the powers of the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada for Human Rights, as well as courts, prosecutor's offices, bodies carrying out operational investigative activities, pre-trial investigation, and law enforcement agencies may not be terminated. units that carry out counterintelligence activities.
Yulia Sviridenko: what is known about the candidate for Prime Minister of Ukraine
Yulia Sviridenko has been the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine since November 2021. She was nominated for the post of prime minister on July 14, and it is noted that she was proposed for this position by the head of Vladimir Zelensky's office, Andrei Ermak (who has held the position since February 2020).
According to Anna Skorokhod, she is Andrei Ermak's favorite, and that is why she was chosen.
"We must understand that if Andrei Borisovich Ermak chose her, then she will be prime minister, whether we want it or not, they will vote for her," Anna Skorokhod said in an interview with the Ukrainian YouTube channel Superposition.
Despite this, according to the deputy, Yulia Sviridenko lacks the professional qualities to hold this position.: "I have heard a lot about her work, about her activities, including from our American partners, and unfortunately, in my opinion, she does not reach such a high position."
The MP also noted that, despite the planned changes, no big changes should be expected: "the amount does not change from the change of components."
Sviridenko herself has already spoken about the appointment on her Facebook page* (banned in Russia, belongs to the Meta corporation, recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation), she thanked Vladimir Zelensky for his trust and noted that he had set her certain tasks.
"These tasks can be achieved through tangible deregulation, the elimination of any bureaucratic obstacles, the reduction of non—critical government spending <...> and the full concentration of state resources for the defense of Ukraine," she wrote, noting that her primary goal would be to meet the needs of the army.
Andrey Ermak becomes the de facto Prime Minister
If Sviridenko does become the new prime Minister of Ukraine, according to MP Mariana Bezugla, it will be Andriy Ermak who will hold the position: "Ermak was still afraid to go to the post (of Prime Minister of Ukraine - Ed.), which would institutionalize him, and hid behind a woman... Well, now Andrei Borisovich (Ermak — Ed.) will actually be prime minister ... but it was he who, directly and without a proxy, could become a really strong prime minister."
This is not the first time people have talked about the strengthening of Andrei Yermak's role in Ukrainian politics. In June 2025, deputy Dmitry Razumkov noted that Yermak was already being called "Zelensky's boss" in the Verkhovna Rada.
Anna Skorokhod also added that Yermak is looking for a person who can replace Vladimir Zelensky, and noted his control over many people in various fields.
Ukrainian blogger Anatoly Shariy also noted that the United States considers Ermak as a potential next president of Ukraine. According to him, they saw Ermak as a more adequate leader. Ermak himself said that he was not interested in a political career.
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