The move follows President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's nomination of First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to take over as prime minister. Svyrydenko is a long-time ally of the president and has already begun discussions with him on the government's priorities for the next six months.

Shmyhal to Become Defence Minister
Denys Shmyhal, who has served as prime minister since March 2020, is expected to transition to the role of defence minister. This change comes as Ukraine aims to enhance its defence operations in the face of ongoing Russian military aggression.

The Ukrainian government has allocated 2.23 trillion hryvnias (approximately $53.2 billion) for defence in its 2025 budget, representing about 26% of the country's GDP. However, the defence ministry has recently faced criticism for disorganisation and procurement inefficiencies, which have hampered Ukraine's military readiness.

Push for Stronger Management
The defence ministry has been under scrutiny since the start of the war for its lack of consistent leadership and structural issues. According to Hlib Vyshlinsky, head of the Centre for Economic Strategy in Kyiv, systemic management has been a persistent problem within the ministry.

With the reshuffle, the government aims to strengthen its command structure and better coordinate resources as it continues to defend against a better-equipped Russian military force.