Key facts
- Serhii Koretskyi, CEO of Naftogaz, was appointed Ukraine's prime minister on July 16.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky nominated Koretskyi for the role.
- Koretskyi's appointment followed the dismissal of Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.
- The dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov triggered nationwide protests.
- Koretskyi's priorities include winter preparation, social support, defense, and critical infrastructure.
The Ukrainian parliament appointed Serhii Koretskyi, head of the state oil and gas company Naftogaz, as prime minister on July 16, 2026. President Volodymyr Zelensky had officially nominated Koretskyi for the position the previous day, emphasizing winter preparation as a key priority. Koretskyi's appointment follows the dismissal of Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko after a year in office, which also triggers the resignation of the entire cabinet. Analysts and lawmakers have noted Koretskyi's good reputation. However, the appointment was overshadowed by controversy surrounding the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move that sparked nationwide protests on July 16. David Arakhamia, head of Zelensky's Servant of the People faction, stated that Koretskyi's experience at Naftogaz would be invaluable, particularly in preparing for a potentially difficult winter. Prior to his role in the energy sector, Koretskyi had a career in Ukraine's private fuel industry, including leading the Continuum Group and its WOG gas station network, and founded the coffee chain Idealist Coffee Co. He also led state-owned energy companies Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta from 2022 to 2025 before becoming Naftogaz CEO in May 2025, focusing on maintaining energy infrastructure stability amidst Russian strikes.