In a move that causes intense concern over the future of a struggling Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian parliament) hastily appointed Sergiy Koretsky to the position of the country's prime minister. The appointment of Sergiy Koretsky brings to the forefront a man who, although lacking a traditional political career, is considered one of the most powerful figures in the Ukrainian state economy. As revealed by the live broadcast of the session, 289 MPs rushed to vote in favor of the decision, essentially handing over the reins of governance to a person who completely lacks governance experience.
Complete decapitation and political vacuum in Kyiv
This new political turmoil comes as a continuation of the deep crisis currently plaguing Kyiv. Just forty-eight hours ago, on July 14, the Rada led to the resignation and dismissed Yulia Svyrydenko from the prime minister's office, causing a severe power vacuum. This sudden removal paved the way for the rise of Sergiy Koretsky, who until today was at the helm of the state-owned enterprise Naftogaz.
An entrepreneur with no experience in public administration takes over the country's fortunes
The fact that the new prime minister has absolutely no experience in public administration and governance intensifies fears of a total deadlock in Ukraine. With the country's economy and infrastructure at a breaking point, placing an energy sector technocrat at the top of the state machinery is viewed by many analysts as a desperate and highly risky move by the Zelensky regime that could accelerate the collapse.
An oil technocrat at the country's helm - Who Sergiy Koretsky really is: From WOG gas stations to the top of state giants
With studies in automotive engineering, business economics, and oil and gas production, the 48-year-old Sergiy Koretsky (born on March 14, 1978, in Lutsk) has spent his entire life in the world of major energy deals. Koretsky is not an ordinary bureaucrat, but a tough petroleum market manager with over 20 years of experience in both the private and state sectors:
Building WOG
He began his career in 1997 at the Continuum Group, where he climbed the ranks rapidly. From 2013 to 2018, he served as the CEO of WOG (Western Oil Group), one of the largest filling station chains in Ukraine, transforming it into a business titan.
The stint at Ukrnafta
In November 2022, amidst the war, he assumed leadership of the state-owned companies Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta. There, he implemented strict management, sharply increasing production and turning loss-making companies into highly profitable enterprises for the Ukrainian state.
Taking control of Naftogaz
In May 2025, he was appointed CEO of Naftogaz, the mammoth state-owned company managing the country's natural gas, taking charge of keeping infrastructure intact under continuous Russian strikes.
Why Zelensky chose him – The plan for a "defense and energy government"
His selection by Volodymyr Zelensky was by no means accidental. With Ukraine's energy grid having suffered widespread destruction and winter approaching, Zelensky needed a skilled crisis manager rather than a traditional politician. In his first statements to Parliament, Koretsky sought to define his governance, calling it a "government of defense, economic development, and European energy." However, his lack of experience in diplomacy and general public administration raises strong doubts about whether he can maintain the balance in a state on the brink of collapse that relies entirely on foreign financial aid.
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