| |
Ukraine PM Steps Down Amid Reshuffle 07/13 06:17
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stepped down
on Sunday as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced fresh changes to Ukraine's
government, saying he had offered a new and important position to the former
premier.
Zelenskyy, who has remained in office under martial law because wartime
elections are prohibited, has periodically reshuffled his government in an
effort to bring fresh momentum to his administration.
Svyrydenko, who has served as Ukraine's economy minister, was named prime
minister in July 2025 at the age of 39 after playing a lead role in securing a
mineral agreement between Ukraine and the United States, seen as an important
way of tying U.S. interests to Ukraine's security.
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 did not provide 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.
Zelenskyy announced her resignation in a post saying that Ukraine was
"changing its political strategy." He also said he had offered Svyrydenko the
opportunity 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 impending reshuffle.
The Ukrainian leader also said there would be changes among the top ranks of
Ukraine's law enforcement agencies.
Zelenskyy met with a series of senior officials following the announcement,
including Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
The overhaul, which Zelenskyy has yet to explain in detail, would be the
fourth major reorganization of his government since the start of Russia's
full-scale invasion.
Ukraine continues strikes against Russian oil sites
Elsewhere, a Ukrainian attack in southwest Russia killed one person and
wounded three more, local officials said Sunday, as Kyiv's forces continued to
bombard Russia's oil facilities.
The head of Russia's Samara region, Gov. Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, said that
a child was among the injured. He also said that residential homes and
apartment buildings were damaged in the strike, as well as an unspecified
"industrial site."
Russian media outlets reported that the attack's target was the region's
Syzran Oil Refinery, with many sharing images that appeared to show plumes of
black smoke rising over the site. The refinery, which is owned by oil and gas
giant Rosneft and sits some 800 kilometers (500 miles) east of the border, has
been a repeated target for Kyiv's forces.
Meanwhile the governor of Russia's Rostov region, Yuri Slyusar, said that a
tanker had been damaged in a drone attack in the Azov-Black Sea maritime canal.
The tanker was empty and there is no threat of an oil spill, Slyusar said.
Ukraine's drone strikes on oil refineries and other infrastructure across
Russia have triggered a widespread fuel crisis with gasoline shortages and
rationing in multiple regions and motorists waiting for hours to fill their
tanks. Moscow has responded by intensifying its bombardment on Kyiv and other
cities, exposing Ukraine's vulnerability to ballistic missile strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described the strikes 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 neighbor.
Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defense said Sunday that it had attacked the
ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk in Ukraine's Odesa region. Ukrainian officials
have not yet commented on the claims.
|
|
