Yulia Svyrydenko Appointed as Ukraine’s New Prime Minister
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s Parliament, has officially named Yulia Svyrydenko as the nation’s new Prime Minister, a decision backed by 262 members of parliament.
Svyrydenko marks a significant milestone as only the second woman in Ukraine’s history to assume this role and the first in 15 years.
Background on Yulia Svyrydenko
At 39 years old, Svyrydenko hails from Chernihiv, born into a family of civil servants. She graduated with distinction from Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics and has completed postgraduate studies. Additionally, she pursued management training in Germany and Sweden, and is proficient in both English and Chinese.
Her professional journey began in the private sector before she transitioned to oversee investment projects in the Chernihiv region. She later joined regional administration, ultimately serving as acting governor.
Svyrydenko held the position of Deputy Minister of Economy before being appointed Deputy Head of the President’s Office in charge of economic policy in 2020. During her government tenure, she managed significant initiatives including the eRobota jobs program, sanctions strategies, business relocations, recovery funding efforts, and negotiations with international bodies such as the IMF and EU.
She represented Ukraine in a notable resource development agreement with the United States and participated as a representative on socio-economic issues within the Trilateral Contact Group aimed at addressing conflicts in eastern Ukraine.
While serving at the President’s Office, she chaired the Business Support Council and was involved in selecting leadership for key economic security roles. She also served on Naftogaz’s supervisory board (the national oil and gas company) while leading its unemployment insurance fund board.
On November 4, 2021, she advanced to First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy. A year later, she spearheaded an Interagency Working Group focused on implementing state-sanction policies.
In recognition of her contributions to leadership globally, TIME magazine included her among its list of the world’s 100 emerging leaders for 2023.
Denys Shmyhal’s Dismissal
Svyrydenko’s appointment followed Denys Shmyhal’s dismissal after over five years as Prime Minister since March 2020—the longest tenure for any prime minister since Ukraine gained independence.
Discussions regarding Shmyhal’s replacement had been ongoing within political circles but only materialized this year. Sources from RBC-Ukraine suggest that there was no singular conflict or reason prompting his removal; rather it resulted from various factors including increasing public pressure and reputational issues surrounding Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov amid corruption allegations related to construction projects.
Internal power dynamics within the President’s Office were also influential; Svyrydenko is known to have close ties with Andriy Yermak, who serves as President Zelenskyy’s chief advisor.
Regarding Shmyhal’s future prospects, RBC-Ukraine indicates he may be considered for appointment as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States following Oksana Markarova’s tenure. Earlier reports from Bloomberg suggested that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had discussed potential changes regarding this ambassadorial position during a phone call with US President Donald Trump on July 4th.
For further insights into governmental reshuffles and their underlying motivations, refer to RBC-Ukraine’s analysis.
