Parliament confirms 39-year-old economist in historic move amid wartime cabinet shake-up

Kyiv — Ukraine made history on Thursday by appointing Yulia Svyrydenko as its first-ever female prime minister, following a parliamentary vote that confirmed her as President Volodymyr Zelensky’s sole nominee for the post.

The 39-year-old economist, who previously served as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, was backed overwhelmingly by lawmakers as part of a broader government reshuffle during a critical phase of Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.

“This is a defining moment for Ukraine,” President Zelensky said after the vote. “I am confident Prime Minister Svyrydenko will lead a strong, reform-focused, and wartime-capable government.”

Svyrydenko assumes office with ambitious targets, including increasing the share of domestically produced weapons on the battlefield from 40% to 50% within six months, a move aimed at reducing dependency on foreign arms amid intensifying Russian attacks.

She has played a central role in recent economic strategy and international negotiations, most notably overseeing a key minerals agreement with the United States signed in May 2025, which secured long-term access to critical raw materials and investment in Ukraine’s mining sector.

Her appointment comes as Ukraine faces both military and political challenges at home and abroad, with expectations high that her leadership will bring greater efficiency to domestic production, defense logistics, and economic recovery efforts.