Ukraine PM Yulia Svyrydenko quits as Zelenskyy signals wider reshuffle
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko resigned as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unveiled a new government shake-up. The move signalled a broader wartime strategy reset as fighting and cross-border strikes continued.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stepped down on Sunday as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced fresh changes to the country's government, saying Ukraine was "changing its political strategy".
At the same time, the fighting continued, with a Ukrainian attack in southwest Russia killing one person and injuring three others, according to local officials, while Russia's Defence Ministry said it had struck the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk in Ukraine's Odesa region.
In a statement on social media, Svyrydenko said she was "proud to have had the honor of leading the government during one of the most difficult periods in Ukraine's modern history". She also said she had discussed "next steps" with Zelenskyy, but gave no further details.
"I remain ready to serve the Ukrainian state and carry out every task aimed at strengthening Ukraine's position, defending our national interests and bringing a just peace closer," she said.
Svyrydenko, Ukraine's former economy minister, was named prime minister in July 2025 at the age of 39 after playing a leading role in securing a mineral agreement between Ukraine and the US, which was seen as an important way of linking US interests to Ukraine's security.
Announcing her resignation in a social media post, Zelenskyy said he had offered Svyrydenko the chance to lead "a new, important area" in Ukraine's relations with a key international partner.
"Each priority area of foreign policy will be assigned to a specific person with substantial experience who is capable of implementing what we agree on at the leaders' level and what the Ukrainian people expect," Zelenskyy said, describing the expected reshuffle. He also said there would be changes among the top ranks of Ukraine's law enforcement agencies.
In Russia's Samara region, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said a child was among those injured in the Ukrainian attack. He said residential homes and apartment buildings were damaged, along with an unspecified "industrial site".
Russian media outlets reported that the target was the Syzran Oil Refinery in the region, with several outlets sharing images that appeared to show black smoke rising over the site. The refinery, owned by Rosneft, is about 800 kilometres east of the border and has been targeted repeatedly by Kyiv's forces.
In the Rostov region, Governor Yuri Slyusar said a tanker was damaged in a drone attack in the Azov-Black Sea maritime canal. He said the tanker was empty and there was no threat of an oil spill.
Ukraine's drone strikes on oil refineries and other infrastructure across Russia have triggered a wider fuel crisis, with petrol shortages and rationing reported in several regions and motorists waiting for hours to fill their tanks. Moscow has responded by stepping up its bombardment of Kyiv and other cities, highlighting Ukraine's vulnerability to ballistic missile strikes.
Zelenskyy has described the attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure as part of Kyiv's campaign of "long-range sanctions", carried out in response to Moscow's refusal to halt its four-year invasion of its neighbour.
Russia's Defence Ministry said on Sunday that it had attacked the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk in Ukraine's Odesa region. Ukrainian officials had not commented on the claim at the time.
Sunday's developments combined a political shake-up in Kyiv with fresh cross-border attacks, as Svyrydenko left office, Zelenskyy signalled a wider government reshuffle and both sides reported new strikes linked to the war.
With PTI Inputs
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stepped down on Sunday as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced fresh changes to the country's government, saying Ukraine was "changing its political strategy".
At the same time, the fighting continued, with a Ukrainian attack in southwest Russia killing one person and injuring three others, according to local officials, while Russia's Defence Ministry said it had struck the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk in Ukraine's Odesa region.
In a statement on social media, Svyrydenko said she was "proud to have had the honor of leading the government during one of the most difficult periods in Ukraine's modern history". She also said she had discussed "next steps" with Zelenskyy, but gave no further details.
"I remain ready to serve the Ukrainian state and carry out every task aimed at strengthening Ukraine's position, defending our national interests and bringing a just peace closer," she said.
Svyrydenko, Ukraine's former economy minister, was named prime minister in July 2025 at the age of 39 after playing a leading role in securing a mineral agreement between Ukraine and the US, which was seen as an important way of linking US interests to Ukraine's security.
Announcing her resignation in a social media post, Zelenskyy said he had offered Svyrydenko the chance to lead "a new, important area" in Ukraine's relations with a key international partner.
"Each priority area of foreign policy will be assigned to a specific person with substantial experience who is capable of implementing what we agree on at the leaders' level and what the Ukrainian people expect," Zelenskyy said, describing the expected reshuffle. He also said there would be changes among the top ranks of Ukraine's law enforcement agencies.
In Russia's Samara region, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said a child was among those injured in the Ukrainian attack. He said residential homes and apartment buildings were damaged, along with an unspecified "industrial site".
Russian media outlets reported that the target was the Syzran Oil Refinery in the region, with several outlets sharing images that appeared to show black smoke rising over the site. The refinery, owned by Rosneft, is about 800 kilometres east of the border and has been targeted repeatedly by Kyiv's forces.
In the Rostov region, Governor Yuri Slyusar said a tanker was damaged in a drone attack in the Azov-Black Sea maritime canal. He said the tanker was empty and there was no threat of an oil spill.
Ukraine's drone strikes on oil refineries and other infrastructure across Russia have triggered a wider fuel crisis, with petrol shortages and rationing reported in several regions and motorists waiting for hours to fill their tanks. Moscow has responded by stepping up its bombardment of Kyiv and other cities, highlighting Ukraine's vulnerability to ballistic missile strikes.
Zelenskyy has described the attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure as part of Kyiv's campaign of "long-range sanctions", carried out in response to Moscow's refusal to halt its four-year invasion of its neighbour.
Russia's Defence Ministry said on Sunday that it had attacked the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk in Ukraine's Odesa region. Ukrainian officials had not commented on the claim at the time.
Sunday's developments combined a political shake-up in Kyiv with fresh cross-border attacks, as Svyrydenko left office, Zelenskyy signalled a wider government reshuffle and both sides reported new strikes linked to the war.
With PTI Inputs
