# Ukraine's Zelensky taps Naftogaz CEO Koretskyi as next prime minister after dismissing Svyrydenko > Serhii Koretskyi, chief executive of state energy company Naftogaz Ukraine, emerged as the confirmed frontrunner to become Ukraine's next prime minister after President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Yulia Svyrydenko; Kyiv lawmakers were preparing for a parliamentary vote on the new government, with Svyrydenko tapped for a new role overseeing cooperation with Ukraine's key partners **Meta:** type: event · date: 2026-07-12 · heads: من يقرّر, التحوّل الصامت · 8 takes · 4 lenses · 5 regions ## Summary Ukraine's President [Volodymyr Zelensky](/ar/entity/person/volodymyr-zelensky) dismissed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on July 12, 2026, a move that caught some Verkhovna Rada lawmakers off guard. Within hours, Naftogaz Ukraine CEO Serhii Koretskyi emerged as the frontrunner to replace her. The Kyiv Independent cited a senior official and a person familiar with the matter confirming that Koretskyi had been chosen and had given his consent to [Volodymyr Zelensky](/ar/entity/person/volodymyr-zelensky). Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov was separately rumoured as a candidate for the role of Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction. Svyrydenko, who had held the post since July 2025, was set to take on a new role overseeing cooperation with Ukraine's key partners, with the US ambassadorship among the roles discussed. [Ukrainian](/ar/entity/ukraine) lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada were preparing for a vote on the new government. ## The split Ukrainian outlets including the Kyiv Independent and UNN focused on the political mechanics: Koretskyi's energy-sector background at Naftogaz, and Terekhov's potential reconstruction role. The Reuters wire, picked up across North American and Australian outlets, played up the "shock" of the dismissal for international audiences. No source reported opposition from parliamentary factions. ## By the numbers - 1 year, Svyrydenko's time as prime minister before dismissal. - 2, Naftogaz positions that defined Koretskyi: he ran the state gas company before being put forward for PM. - 1, reported candidate for Vice PM for Reconstruction: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov. ## Why it matters Koretskyi's energy background at Naftogaz is notable: [Ukraine](/ar/entity/ukraine) faces a fifth winter of war, with Russian strikes repeatedly targeting the energy grid, and Naftogaz is central to heating and gas supply. A PM drawn from the energy sector signals that reconstruction and energy resilience, not just military coordination, are being prioritised. Svyrydenko's likely move to an ambassadorial role keeps her inside the wartime foreign-policy machinery rather than sidelining her. ## What to watch - The Verkhovna Rada vote on the new government and its composition, expected within days. - Confirmation of Svyrydenko's new assignment, including whether she takes the US ambassador role. - How Koretskyi positions Naftogaz policy, including gas storage targets ahead of winter. ## Regional takes (batched by bias / lens) ### Ukrainian English-language outlet; first to report PM Svyrydenko's resignation and the emergence of potential successors, including Koretskyi - **Kyiv Independent** (Ukraine, en) — The Kyiv Independent reported that Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who had replaced Denys Shmyhal in July 2025, stepped down, stunning some lawmakers. Svyrydenko was said to be taking on a new role leading cooperation with Ukraine's key partners. The piece documented the shock among Verkhovna Rada members and the early speculation on successors. > "Yulia Svyrydenko, who replaced former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in July 2025, will now take on a new role leading cooperation with Ukraine's key partners." Source: https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-pm-steps-down-amid-government-reshuffle/ ### Follow-up report from Kyiv Independent confirming Koretskyi as the named successor, citing a senior Ukrainian official; Svyrydenko tapped for US ambassador role - **Kyiv Independent** (Ukraine, en) — The Kyiv Independent reported that Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi was set to become Ukraine's next prime minister, citing a senior official and a person familiar with the matter. Former PM Svyrydenko was being considered for the role of US ambassador. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov was rumoured as a candidate for Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction. > "Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi is set to become Ukraine's next prime minister, a senior Ukrainian official and a person familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent." Source: https://kyivindependent.com/naftogaz-ceo-koretskyi-likely-to-become-ukraines-next-prime-minister-sources-say/ ### Ukrainian state-adjacent news agency confirming Koretskyi as main candidate per Rada MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak - **Ukrainian News Agency (UNN)** (Ukraine, en) — UNN cited Verkhovna Rada MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak saying Koretskyi, head of NJSC Naftogaz, was the main candidate for the post of prime minister to replace Svyrydenko. The report confirmed the internal parliamentary reading before the Kyiv Independent's fuller sourcing. > "The main candidate for the post of prime minister is the head of NJSC 'Naftogaz' Serhiy Koretskyi, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak believes." Source: https://unn.ua/en/news/koretskyi-is-the-main-candidate-for-the-position-of-head-of-government-instead-of-svyrydenko-mp ### unlabelled - **Ukraine News Pravda** (Ukraine, en) — Source: https://ua.news-pravda.com/en/world/2026/07/12/106027.html - **YourNews** (Global, en) — Source: https://yournews.com/2026/07/12/7106893/ukraine-faces-major-political-shake-up-as-zelenskiy-moves-to-replace/ - **The Print (Reuters wire)** (India, en) — Source: https://theprint.in/world/ukraine-awaits-new-government-after-prime-ministers-shock-dismissal/2985611/ - **KFGO (Reuters wire)** (United States, en) — Source: https://kfgo.com/2026/07/13/ukraine-awaits-new-government-after-prime-ministers-shock-dismissal/ - **Daily Advertiser (Reuters wire)** (Australia, en) — Source: https://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/9310034/ukraine-awaits-new-government-after-pms-dismissal/ ## Across the graph - Related: [[ukraine-cabinet-reshuffle-jul12]], [[ukraine-russia-war-dossier]] - Entities: Person:volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine --- Canonical: https://rbtfl.xyz/ar/n/ukraine-koretskyi-pm-jul13