The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has approved key cabinet appointments. Denys Shmyhal was appointed First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, while Mykhailo Fedorov was named Minister of Defense – both candidates were proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
New Defense Minister
Previously, Mykhailo Fedorov served as Minister of Digital Transformation. He actively led the “Drone Line” project and successfully implemented the digitalization of public services.
During his address to parliament, newly appointed Defense Minister Fedorov promised to implement systematic solutions to accumulated issues, conduct an audit of the territorial recruitment centers and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and prioritize increasing financial support for the military.
New Energy Minister
Denys Shmyhal previously led the Cabinet of Ministers from March 2020 to July 2025, becoming the longest-serving prime minister in independent Ukraine. On July 16, 2025, he was appointed Minister of Defense.
As the new Minister of Energy, Shmyhal stated that his main task is to overcome the acute phase of the energy crisis as quickly as possible, restore generation, substations, and gas networks, and establish reserves while supporting frontline territories.
Shmyhal emphasized the need to protect energy facilities, develop decentralized generation, modernize infrastructure, and integrate Ukraine into the European energy market, highlighting the importance of digital services and public-private investment.
Background on the Appointments
Before the Verkhovna Rada approved Shmyhal as Minister of Energy and Fedorov as Minister of Defense, the parliament failed to approve the candidates during the first vote on January 13. In particular, Shmyhal’s appointment as Energy Minister was blocked, as he received only 210 votes instead of the required 226, despite the proposal coming from President Zelensky.
The failed vote was an unexpected setback for the president’s parliamentary majority, as support was lacking even within part of the “Servant of the People” faction.
Some media outlets and political analysts in Ukraine have linked the absence of the necessary votes to potential vote-buying. The day before, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) confirmed that a notice of suspicion had been served to the head of one parliamentary faction for allegedly offering undue benefits to other Members of Parliament.
The suspect’s name has not been officially disclosed, but statements from anti-corruption authorities, as well as comments from the individual herself, indicate that it concerns Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the Batkivshchyna party faction.
Conclusion
The appointments of Denys Shmyhal and Mykhailo Fedorov represent an important step in renewing the Cabinet of Ministers and enhancing the management of Ukraine’s energy and defense sectors. At the same time, obstacles during the first vote and the lack of necessary parliamentary support highlight the complex political situation and the possible influence of factions on government staffing decisions.
