Ukraine's New PM Sworn in Amid Winter Challenges and Protests

WHO:

AP News - Serhii Koretskyi is the new prime minister of Ukraine.

AP News - President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Koretskyi.

AP News - Mykhailo Fedorov is the popular Defense Minister who was sidelined in the government reshuffle.

WHAT:

AP News - Koretskyi was confirmed as prime minister amid protests in the city center.

AP News - Koretskyi's immediate priorities include protecting Ukraine’s energy system, stabilizing the economy, ensuring effective use of international aid, and expanding domestic arms production.

AP News - Under Koretskyi's leadership, Naftogaz rebuilt gas reserves to more than 13 billion cubic meters and raised nearly $1 billion.

WHERE:

AP News - The protests occurred in the city center of Kyiv, Ukraine.

WHEN:

AP News - Koretskyi was named as prime minister on a Thursday.

AP News - In 2022, Koretskyi was appointed to lead Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta.

AP News - Last year, Koretskyi was selected to lead Naftogaz.

WHY:

AP News - Koretskyi was chosen for his reputation as an effective crisis manager and his experience in managing troubled state-owned energy companies.

AP News - President Zelenskyy tasked Koretskyi with steering the country through what is expected to be the hardest winter of the war due to Russian attacks.

HOW:

AP News - Koretskyi launched an audit at Naftogaz that triggered sweeping restructuring, eliminating overlapping functions and streamlining staffing.

(UPDATED July 17, 2026 16:25 UTC)

Serhii Koretskyi has been appointed as Ukraine's new prime minister by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, amid protests in the city center of Kyiv. Koretskyi, known for his crisis management skills and experience with state-owned energy companies, has immediate priorities that include protecting the energy system, stabilizing the economy, and expanding domestic arms production. Under his leadership, Naftogaz has successfully rebuilt gas reserves to over 13 billion cubic meters and raised nearly $1 billion, as he prepares to navigate what is anticipated to be the toughest winter of the war.