On July 16, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada formed a new composition of the Cabinet of Ministers. The resolution №15415 was voted for by 264 people's deputies — the minimum required for a decision, but not a triumph for the "Servant of the People" monocoalition.
Just three days ago, Sergiy Koretskyi headed Naftogaz. Before that — the WOG gas station network and his own coffee brand Idealist. He was never in big politics: he built his career through corporate management, not through party lists or state apparatus. This is an atypical trajectory for a Ukrainian prime minister.
What actually changed in the structure
The most noticeable reform is the disaggregation of ministries. The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture was divided again into two: the Ministry of Economy and Environment (headed by Oleksandr Kravchenko, an international consultant) and the restored Ministry of Agrarian Policy under Taras Vysotskyi — former deputy to Sobolev. A similar division of the Ministry of Regional Development and Ministry of Infrastructure is planned.
Among notable rotations — National Police Chief Ivan Vygivskyi came to the Interior Ministry replacing Ihor Klymenko. Mykolaiv Governor Vitalii Kim became head of the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs. Andrii Butenko — head of the higher education quality assurance agency since 2022 — became Education Minister replacing Oksen Lisovyi.
Two positions still vacant
The Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs are voted on separately by procedure — their heads are nominated by the president. The Foreign Ministry, according to available data, will remain with Andrii Sybiha. Defense Ministry — an open question: Mykhailo Fedorov left after a conflict with Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, and Zelenskyy did not support his candidacy. Ihor Klymenko is a likely successor, but the vote was postponed due to lack of votes.
"This is a team for one task — to work in the interests of the state, deliver results and take responsibility for their actions and inactions."
Sergiy Koretskyi, after the vote in the Rada
The prime minister himself warned: if ministers don't deliver results — the reaction will be swift. For a person from the business environment, this is familiar rhetoric. How well it will work in the bureaucratic system during the active phase of the war — that's another question.
Context of the change
Yulia Svyrydenko was prime minister for less than a year — from July 17, 2025. The official explanation for her resignation — "strengthening priorities" before a difficult winter. Koretskyi, in turn, came to Naftogaz in spring 2025, when the company had historically low gas reserves, and left with over 13 billion cubic meters in storage — raising about $1 billion in own funds and €1.57 billion from the EBRD and EIB. This result, apparently, became his main CV for the premiership.
The question that will determine the real weight of this reset: whether Koretskyi's Cabinet will manage to fill the defense minister vacancy before autumn battles set new demands on military resource provision — and who will be responsible then.
