Zelenskyy sacks defence chief, taps Naftogaz CEO for PM
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s surprise dismissal of a key architect of Ukraine’s drone warfare and the nomination of a state energy chief as prime minister signal a sudden pivot toward ceasefire negotiations and winter economic survival, sparking rare public backlash.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, installing Serhiy Koretsky, the CEO of state-owned energy company Naftogaz, as the country's new prime minister.
The reshuffle comes as Zelenskyy explicitly prioritises securing a ceasefire and preparing the nation for winter. Moving Koretsky from Naftogaz to the premiership suggests the government is aligning its political and economic resources toward domestic energy security and diplomatic settlement rather than sustained military offensives.
Fedorov’s departure is particularly striking given his recent focus on crippling Russia’s economy. During his six months in office, his ministry drastically scaled up drone production and capabilities, launching sustained attacks on Russian oil refineries to raise Moscow's economic cost for the war. Fedorov confirmed his dismissal on social media, calling it a "great honor to serve the Ukrainian people."
Defence experts credit this drone campaign with stalling Russian momentum, though it also heightened escalation risks. Removing Fedorov now, just as Ukraine appears to have gained battlefield advantage, introduces uncertainty for European defence suppliers and allies who have invested heavily in Kyiv's drone manufacturing sector.
The sudden personnel changes have triggered domestic unrest. More than a thousand protesters gathered in central Kyiv, waving Ukrainian and European Union flags while chanting "shame" and "bring Fedorov back."
The rally was organised by Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran, who stated it was "no longer possible to tolerate what's happening with our government." He called on citizens to show Zelenskyy they are "against constant reshuffles in the government and replacing effective ministers with convenient opportunists." Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, also joined the demonstration.
A shift in strategy
This marks Ukraine’s fourth government reshuffle since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Announcing the changes on Sunday, Zelenskyy said "Ukraine is changing its political strategy."
He promised to assign foreign policy priorities to individuals "with substantial experience who is capable of implementing what we agree on at the leaders' level and what the Ukrainian people expect." For European investors and governments backing Kyiv, the immediate question is whether a Naftogaz-led administration can deliver that strategy while managing public discontent at home.
