Ukrainian government faces major shake-up with high-profile resignations
6:21 AM EDT, September 4, 2024
Several Ukrainian ministers have resigned, including Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Olha Stefanishyna. Additionally, Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Rostyslav Shurma, Deputy Head of his administration, who was considered the economic brain of the presidential administration.
For some time now, Ukrainian media have reported that the government is preparing for a minor reshuffle. Possible changes were mentioned in the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, and the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories.
As reported on Tuesday by Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, resignation letters were submitted to the parliament by: Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshyn, Minister of Justice Denys Malyuska, and Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strelets. Additionally, Vitaliy Koval, the Head of the State Property Fund, submitted his resignation.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Iryna Vereshchuk also submitted resignation documents in the following hours.
Ukrainska Pravda reports that this is not the end of the government changes. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba may have to resign.
Zelensky dismisses a key figure in his administration
A significant change also occurred in President Volodymyr Zelensky's office. Deputy Head of the Administration Rostyslav Shurma, considered Zelensky's economic brain, was dismissed. Shurma strongly advocated a liberal course, supporting the "10-10-10" reform - 10% PIT, CIT, and VAT.
According to the Ukrainian edition of Forbes, Shurma's dismissal is due to a lack of cooperation with international partners on key issues, including tax policy. Recently, the media also reported that, together with Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, he persuaded Zelensky to dismiss the well-regarded, including by international partners, head of Ukrenerho Volodymyr Kudrytskyi.
Shurma will most likely be replaced in Zelensky's administration by Oleksandr Kamyshyn, who was just dismissed from the position of Minister of Strategic Industries.
