“Government of the second numbers”: who will replace whom in the Cabinet of Ministers – a list of personnel changes

30 June 10:13

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is preparing a large-scale personnel rotation. MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak has announced that Ukraine is facing a “second-rate government” with former deputies of current ministers playing key roles, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports

According to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, most of the new appointments are “rearranging the beds in a familiar room,” and the new government is more like a “second-room government,” where former deputies receive ministerial portfolios.

“So, ‘Government of the second rooms’ or ‘Big Bed Shuffle’,” Zheleznyak wrote.

Prime Minister: Shmyhal – goodbye, Svyrydenko – a new face

According to the MP, Denys Shmyhal is leaving the post of prime minister and will most likely not receive a diplomatic post:

“Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is resigning and will most likely just continue to be a former prime minister. Idon’t believe in the US ambassador,” the MP said.

His successor will be the current First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko:

“Yulia Svyrydenko is the new Prime Minister,” Zheleznyak stated briefly.

Who else is on the reshuffle list?

The MP made public a number of expected personnel decisions:

Oleksiy Kuleba may become the first deputy prime minister: “Although he has the same risks as Chernyshov.”
Oleksiy Sobolev (Svyrydenko’s first deputy) will head the Ministry of Economy: “…but without the prefix vice”.
Olga Stefanishyna will remain Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration. If the Ministry of Justice is taken away from her, Iryna Mudra may head the ministry.
Mykhailo Fedorov will remain Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization.
Oleksiy Chernyshov will be dismissed, and his ministry “will be merged somewhere so that it does not sound like ‘liquidation of unity'”.
Oleh Nemchinov will also resign. He will be replaced by Konstantin Maryevich.

Who is losing their positions?

Oksana Zholnovych (Ministry of Social Affairs) – Daryna Marchak is expected to replace her.
Natalia Kalmykova (Ministry of Water) – the ministry may be liquidated or merged.

“Natalia Kalmykova is losing her position. It is not yet clear whether the Ministry of Veterans will be abolished or attached to the portfolio of another minister/deputy prime minister,” the MP clarified.

Oksen Lisovyi (Ministry of Education and Science) – they are looking for a new minister among the deputies.
Viktor Liashko (Health Ministry) is also being replaced.
Sergiy Marchenko (Ministry of Finance) – 70% chance of dismissal. Possible replacements are Denys Uliutin or Roksolana Pidlasa.
Mykola Tochytskyi will losehis position, but: “Since he is a classmate of Yermak’s, I think he will be the one who will go to the United States as ambassador. Or somewhere else, like Canada.”

Who retains their positions?

Matviy Bidnyi, Minister of Youth and Sports.
Herman Halushchenko (Ministry of Energy) and Svitlana Hrynchuk (Ministry of Ecology) keep their positions: “They are Mindich’s quota, as long as they are talking, he has defended them.”
Vitaliy Koval is also in the composition under the Mindich quota.
Andriy Sybiga remains in the Foreign Ministry.
Herman Smetanin (Ministry of Industry and Trade) – 50/50 chance of staying.
Rustem Umerov – retains the post of Defense Minister.
Ihor Klymenko – will become Deputy Prime Minister for Security and Defense (Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Education). But it is not yet clear whether he will retain the portfolio of the Interior Minister.

is “re-sticker” the essence of the changes?

In conclusion, Zheleznyak is ironic about the scale of the changes:

“This is how the beds were rearranged. Probably, only those in the government who are responsible for re-sticking signs on the doors will notice the dramatic changes.”

At the same time, some anonymous telegram channels, which are linked to the President’s Office, have begun to refute Zhelezniak’s words. They claim that the MP has absolutely no knowledge of the “personnel situation” and is spreading his own “speculation“ about future rotations in the Cabinet.