Svyrydenko became the head of the government by decision of the Verkhovna Rada

On July 17, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a decision to appoint Yulia Svyridenko to the post of Prime Minister, replacing Denys Shmyhal, who had held this position since 2020. This appointment marked a significant milestone in the country’s history, as Svyridenko is only the second woman to hold this position since Ukraine’s independence.

People’s Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced the news of the appointment.

The President of Ukraine nominated Svyridenko’s candidacy. During the vote, she was supported by a significant number of deputies, including representatives of the pro-government faction and some non-faction parliamentarians. Although the results of the ballot may vary slightly across different sources, the process generally took place in a positive atmosphere, with few significant objections.

In her speech in parliament, Yulia Svyridenko outlined the main goals that she sets for herself in her new position. She identified the main priorities as strengthening Ukraine’s economic potential, developing domestic production, particularly in the defense sector, and supporting citizens through state programs. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of financial stability during wartime and the necessity of modernizing the resource management system.

“I am aware of the responsibility this position carries,” the new Prime Minister said. “My main task is to ensure economic stability and strengthen the defense capability of our country.”

Svyridenko also noted that Ukraine needs to maximize its internal reserves to confront the challenges posed by a full-scale war effectively.

Details about the new Prime Minister

Yulia Svyridenko was born on December 25, 1985, in Chernihiv. She holds a master’s degree in antitrust management from the Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics. She worked in the private sector for several years before moving to the civil service in 2015. First, she held senior positions in the Chernihiv Regional State Administration, and then in 2018, she became the Acting Head of the Regional State Administration.

In 2019-2020, Svyrydenko held the position of Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade, and Agriculture, and later Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. Since November 2021, she has been the First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy. She is considered one of the key figures in the President’s team on economic policy and has close ties with the Head of the Office, Andriy Yermak.

Svyrydenko also has experience in international negotiations and obtaining external support for the Ukrainian economy. Her activities were recognized with the Certificate of Honor of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

In the coming days, the new government led by Svyrydenko will present an updated program of its activities and propose candidates for key ministerial positions. Svyrydenko’s team is expected to focus on continuing reforms in the energy sector, logistics, and business support, as well as accelerating Ukraine’s integration into the European Union.

Recall that President Zelenskyy previously introduced Denys Shmyhal as Minister of Defense.