Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday named Denys Shmyhal as a candidate to lead the country’s Energy Ministry, citing the need for stable leadership as Ukraine works to restore its damaged energy infrastructure.
In a statement posted on the US social media company X, Zelenskyy said he met with Shmyhal and thanked him for his “systematic work” as defense minister, a role he assumed in July last year, as well as for strengthening processes aimed at protecting the country.
“This kind of systematic approach is exactly what Ukraine’s energy sector needs right now,” Zelenskyy said, stressing the importance of recovery efforts following repeated strikes on energy facilities.
He added that maintaining stable growth in the energy sector is critical to meeting national demand.
Zelenskyy said he held consultations with Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and expressed confidence that parliament would support the plan, including Shmyhal’s appointment as first deputy prime minister and minister of energy.
The announcement comes a day after Zelenskyy said Ukraine would undergo “substantial” internal changes to boost resilience, including a proposal to appoint Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov as the country’s next defense minister.
The energy minister post has been vacant since November, when Svitlana Hrynchuk resigned amid a $100 million corruption investigation into the energy sector. She had assumed the role in July during Ukraine’s largest Cabinet reshuffle since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
By Burc Eruygur
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
