President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on July 16, 2026 that Serhii Koretskyi, the head of the state energy giant Naftogaz, will serve as Ukraine's new prime minister. The appointment comes as Russia intensifies attacks on energy infrastructure, threatening what officials describe as the hardest winter the country has faced since the invasion began.

Career Path and Crisis Management

Koretskyi is not a career politician. For over twenty years he built a reputation in the private sector, overseeing fuel and food enterprises before taking charge of troubled state‑owned energy firms. In 2022, he was tasked with reviving Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta after the state seized them from oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky. Within two years, those companies posted record profits, settled tax arrears and became major contributors to the war effort by supplying fuel and funding drone operations.

From Energy to the Premiership

His elevation to the premiership was confirmed by a parliamentary vote amid street protests demanding greater transparency and accusing President Zelenskyy of marginalising Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. In his inaugural parliamentary address, Koretskyi outlined immediate priorities: protecting the battered energy grid, stabilising the economy, ensuring that international assistance is spent judiciously, and expanding domestic arms production.

Challenges Ahead

When appointed head of Naftogaz in 2024, Koretskyi inherited critically low gas reserves after previous management failed to secure imports and Russian strikes crippled production. He launched a comprehensive audit, restructured the organisation, and restored reserves to over 13 billion cubic metres while raising nearly $1 billion in revenue. Zelenskyy praised him as “the most prepared candidate” for the prime ministerial role, emphasizing winter readiness as the chief concern.

Potential Impact on Ukraine and Europe

Koretskyi’s expertise in energy logistics and crisis turnaround is expected to mitigate winter power shortages, limiting civilian disruptions and sustaining military operations. Economically, his mandate includes balancing a cash‑strapped wartime budget, channeling foreign aid efficiently, and bolstering indigenous defence manufacturing. Success could reinforce Ukraine’s resilience, influence European energy security, and reshape the strategic calculus of the ongoing conflict.