Ukraine PM Denys Shmyhal resigns as Zelensky backs Yulia Svyrydenko as successor

Ukraine's Prime minister Denys Shmyhal - File Photo

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal handed in his resignation on Tuesday after the country's President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to nominate First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko to succeed him in the role.

Shmyhal posted a photograph of his resignation letter in a post on Telegram. "Thank you to our defenders who are holding the front and protecting Ukraine! Thank you to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky for the trust! Thank you to the entire team for their tireless work for our country!" he wrote.

The move comes after Zelensky nominated Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to become the country’s new prime minister, signalling a major political overhaul as Ukraine continues to navigate the challenges of war and international diplomacy more than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The announcement came on Monday via Zelensky’s official social media channels, where he emphasized the need to revitalise the government. "I have proposed that Yuliia Svyrydenko lead the government of Ukraine and significantly renew its work," Zelensky wrote, sharing a photo of the two together. "I look forward to the presentation of the new government's action plan in the near future."

Svyrydenko, 39, has been a key figure in Ukraine’s economic leadership, especially during a tense period earlier this year when talks over a critical rare minerals agreement with the United States nearly jeopardised Kyiv’s relationship with its most crucial military partner. Her leadership during those negotiations reportedly elevated her standing both at home and abroad.