Ukraine: Five ministers vacate posts – Selenskyj restructures government

A major government reshuffle is imminent in Ukraine. At least six government officials, including cabinet members, submitted their resignations on Tuesday evening, according to the ruling Servant of the People party. On Wednesday morning, the parliamentary presidium also announced that Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba was also leaving his post.

“As promised, a major government restructuring is to be expected this week,” said the parliamentary group leader of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party, David Arachamia, on Tuesday in the online service Telegram. According to the statement, “more than 50 percent” of the government members are to be replaced.

Ukraine: Six ministers vacate their posts

“Tomorrow we will have a day of dismissals, the day after that a day of appointments,” announced Arachamiaam in the evening, who is considered a confidant of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

On Tuesday evening, several ministers had already submitted their resignations, including the ministers for strategic industries, justice and environmental protection. The head of the State Property Fund, Vitaly Koval, and the deputy prime ministers Irina Vereshchuk and Olha Stefanishyna also resigned.

In addition, according to a decree by Zelensky, the deputy head of his presidential office, Rostislav Shurma, was dismissed.

It is not Selenskyj’s first government restructuring

Zelensky has repeatedly restructured the country’s government since the war began. Last September, he sacked his defense minister after a series of corruption scandals. He recently replaced his army chief after a series of setbacks on the battlefield.

Zelensky’s term of office, which began in 2019, ended in May. However, due to martial law in force since the start of Russia’s war of aggression in February 2022, he will remain in office until further notice.