Ukrainian parliament appoints Koretskyi as prime minister

The Ukrainian parliament appointed Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister on July 16.

As many as 289 members of parliament out of 392 approved Koretskyi's appointment, while one voted against it, seven abstained, and 21 lawmakers did not vote.

Koretskyi, CEO of state oil and gas company Naftogaz, was nominated by President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 15. Koretskyi's Cabinet is expected to be appointed later the same day.

Analysts and lawmakers have told the Kyiv Independent that Koretskyi has a good reputation.

However, his appointment was marred by controversy over the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was widely seen as highly effective, and Zelensky's decision to fire him triggered nationwide protests on July 16.

David Arakhamia, head of Zelensky's Servant of the People faction in parliament, said on July 15 that Koretskyi's experience at Naftogaz "will be invaluable, especially now as Ukraine prepares for what could be the most difficult winter in its history."

Before entering the state energy sector, Koretskyi built his career in Ukraine's private fuel industry. In 2013, he became CEO of the Continuum Group and its WOG gas station network. He was the founder and owner of the Ukrainian coffee chain Idealist Coffee Co.

Koretskyi also led the state-owned energy companies Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta from 2022 until 2025.

Koretskyi officially assumed the role of Naftogaz CEO in May 2025, after being appointed by the company's supervisory board. His tenure has focused on keeping Ukraine's energy infrastructure running amid Russian strikes on production facilities.