Yuliya Svyrydenko to be appointed ambassador to the United States
According to President Zelenskyy, each priority area of foreign policy will be overseen by a specific individual with substantial experience, “capable of implementing what we agree upon at the leadership level and what the Ukrainian people expect”. Among the key areas, Zelenskyy highlighted cooperation with the United States, including agreements on the licensed production of Patriot systems; the European anti-ballistic missile project; integration into the European Union; the development of relations with Poland and Hungary; engagement with countries in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf; relations with China; and cooperation with key international organisations.
The Head of State thanked Yuliya Svyrydenko for her work at the helm of the government and announced that he had offered her a new important role.
It should be recalled that Yuliya Svyrydenko took over as head of government only a year ago, in July 2025, succeeding Denys Shmyhal in the post.
Serhiy Koretskyy may become head of government
Judging by his recent remarks, Volodymyr Zelenskyy appears to be satisfied with Serhiy Koretskyy’s performance as chairman of the board of Naftogaz of Ukraine. The President noted that both Ukrnafta, previously headed by Koretskyy, and Naftogaz had achieved their targeted national performance indicators.
“I am grateful for his effective work at the helm of Ukraine’s strategic state-owned companies — Ukrnafta and Naftogaz. This is an extremely complex sector with a wide range of competing interests, and it is important that Serhiy has ensured that Ukraine’s national interests are upheld in the activities of these companies,” Zelenskyy emphasised.
At the same time, “new challenges are emerging as a result of Russian attacks, particularly on energy infrastructure in border and frontline Regions, as well as strikes on petrol stations and other facilities”.
Serhiy Koretskyy was born on 14 March 1978 in Lutsk. He received his higher education at Lutsk State Technical University, first specialising in mechanical engineering and later in business management.
For more than 20 years, Koretskyy was associated with the Kontinium Group of Companies, progressing from a position in the analytical department to chief executive officer. In 2002, he became head of the Western Oil Group joint venture, and from 2007 onwards he led the group’s management company.
Between 2002 and 2006, he served as a voluntary assistant to Ihor Yeremeyev, a Member of the Verkhovna Rada of the fourth convocation elected on the For a United Ukraine electoral bloc. From 2012 to 2014, he again served as a voluntary assistant to Yeremeyev, who had by then been elected to the Verkhovna Rada of the seventh convocation.
In 2006, Koretskyy unsuccessfully contested elections to the Verkhovna Rada of the fifth convocation from the non-electable part of the Lytvyn People’s Bloc party list (No. 214). In the same year, he also unsuccessfully stood for election to the Volyn Regional Council as a candidate for the Lytvyn People’s Bloc.
Between 2007 and 2012, he served as a voluntary assistant to Kateryna Vashchuk, a Member of the Verkhovna Rada of the sixth convocation elected from the Lytvyn People’s Bloc.
From 2013 onwards, he managed the WOG petrol station chain, introducing new business models, including the development of coffee shops beyond the company’s filling stations.
In 2018, he left Kontinium to focus on his own business ventures. In 2019, he founded Idealist Coffee Co., a coffee brand with a full production cycle that also operates a chain of coffee shops. By 2024, the company had ten outlets in Kyiv, and since 2022 its products have been supplied on Ukrzaliznytsya trains. Koretskyy ceased to be a beneficiary of the business at the end of 2021.
Between 2019 and 2022, he was also co-founder and chairman of the board of the Swiss energy trading company Centurion Group SA.
On 9 November 2022, Serhiy Koretskyy was appointed director of Ukrnafta and UkrTatNafta following the transfer of the companies to the management of the Ministry of Defence.
On 28 April 2025, the supervisory board of NAK Naftogaz of Ukraine approved his appointment as chairman of the board.
In January, Serhiy Koretskyy took part in one of the discussion panels organised by New Country. As part of a joint project between LB.ua and EFI Group, participants discussed what lessons the authorities had — or had not — learnt from the winter of 2025–2026 and what preparations should be made for the winter of 2026–2027.
Changes in the security sector
Following the resignation of the current government and the formation of a new cabinet, the current Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, may become Minister of Defence.
This was reported to LB.ua by two sources close to the Office of the President, as well as a source within Ihor Klymenko’s own circle.
According to our information, Klymenko is not particularly keen to change departments. However, when such a request comes directly from the President, refusing it is not considered an option.
A source close to the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs told LB.ua that such a move may reflect Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s desire to improve the situation surrounding mobilisation.
At the same time, sources close to the Office of the President suggest that the possible replacement at the Ministry of Defence may stem from the Head of State’s dissatisfaction with the actions of the current minister. It cannot be ruled out that these actions are perceived at Bankova as being aimed at advancing personal political ambitions.
Another significant potential change concerns the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). According to our information, Oleksandr Poklad may be appointed to lead the agency. He currently serves as First Deputy Head of the SBU.
For reference, a brief profile follows.
Hero of Ukraine and Major General Oleksandr Poklad was born on 6 July 1974 in Kremenchuk. He graduated from the Yaroslav Mudryy National Law University. In 2018, he defended his doctoral thesis at Zaporizhzhya National University and obtained a PhD in Law.
He worked in law enforcement agencies in Poltava Region, founded a company specialising in property management and leasing, and practised as a lawyer.
During the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, he served on a voluntary basis as an assistant to Ukrainian MPs Ivan Mirnyy (Party of Regions, Opposition Bloc) and Ravil Safiullin (Party of Regions, sixth convocation).
Since 2015, he has held senior positions within the Security Service of Ukraine’s counter-intelligence system and has been involved in the management of special operations.
On 30 November 2021, by presidential decree, he was appointed Head of the Counter-Intelligence Department of the Security Service of Ukraine.
On 5 January 2026, he was appointed First Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine.
The role of parliament
Ukraine is a parliamentary-presidential republic. Consequently, the formation of the government — with the exception of the ministers of defence and foreign affairs, whose candidacies are proposed by the President — falls within the remit of the parliamentary majority. Formally, this majority consists solely of the Servant of the People party. In practice, however, without the support of the Trust and For the Future parliamentary groups, as well as two splinter groups that emerged from the former Opposition Platform — For Life, the presidential faction is unable to secure sufficient votes to pass key decisions. One possible solution would be the formation of a new parliamentary majority, but both the President and the parliamentary leadership of Servant of the People are opposed to such a move.
As matters currently stand, it is difficult to predict how complex or prolonged the process of forming a new government, appointing a prime minister and finalising the cabinet’s composition may prove to be. This is particularly true given that members of the presidential faction appear to have learnt of the forthcoming changes only from the President’s address, at the same time as the wider public.