Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, there has been a significant wave of ministerial dismissals. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has attributed this to the need for “new energy” in government positions. However, many of the replacements are current employees of the President’s Office. This raises the question of whether this “new energy” will truly be new, and who exactly will be taking on these ministerial roles after the reshuffling. Let’s take a closer look at the situation.
Some notable departures include former Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, who has submitted his resignation. It is unclear if he will continue working in a different role within the President’s team. The Ministry for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories will also no longer exist, with former head Iryna Vereshchuk now handling social policy in the President’s Office. The Ministry of Justice has also seen a change in leadership, with former head Denys Maliuska resigning after five years in the position.
In terms of replacements, former First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has taken over as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Herman Smetanin, the former head of “Ukroboronprom,” is now in charge of the Ministry of Strategic Industries and Industrial Policy. Svitlana Hrynchuk, the former Deputy Minister of Energy, has become the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. Other new heads of ministries include Matvii Bidnyi for Youth and Sports, Vitalii Koval for Agrarian Policy, Mykola Tochytskyi for Culture and Information Policy, Natalia Kalmikova for Veterans Affairs, and Oleksii Kuleba for Community Development, Territories, and Infrastructure.
The timing of these changes is also worth noting. In June 2024, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk announced upcoming personnel changes in the government. However, these changes did not occur at that time, despite being mentioned during a National Telethon broadcast. It is unclear why the changes are happening now, but it seems that filling the government with new faces is a priority for the President’s team.
In conclusion, the ongoing war in Ukraine has led to a significant reshuffling of ministerial positions. While President Zelenskyy has emphasized the need for “new energy,” many of the replacements are current employees of the President’s Office. It remains to be seen if these changes will bring about the desired results and who will ultimately take on these important roles in the government.
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