Behind Ukraine's biggest wartime government reshuffle

A number of top officials have submitted their resignations, the most recent of which is Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba.

According to Reuters news agency, President Zelensky is expected to nominate a candidate for the position of new Foreign Minister on September 4, with First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha being one of the leading candidates.

Previously, at least six officials had submitted their resignations since September 3 and a presidential assistant had been dismissed.

Specifically, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, said that the government minister in charge of supervising the production of domestic weapons in the war with the Russian Federation, Mr. Oleksandr Kamyshin, submitted his resignation on September 3, along with two other ministers, Minister of Justice Denys Maliuska and Minister of Environment Ruslan Strilets. In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European integration, Ms. Olha Stefanishyna, also submitted her resignation.

The information that Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin is leaving his current position was also confirmed by this official when he wrote on his Telegram account: "I will continue to work in the defense sector but in a different role."

Mr Kamyshin, 40, was appointed Minister of Strategic Industries in March 2023 and has spearheaded Ukraine's efforts to boost defense production, from attack drones to long-range missiles.

David Arakhamia, leader of the members of Ukraine's ruling party in parliament, called it "the day of dismissal".

Meanwhile, Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko commented: "This reform move has been predicted for a long time."

This is a major cabinet reshuffle amid dramatic changes on the ground in the conflict in Ukraine. A series of resignations by Ukrainian ministers has left more than a third of the Ukrainian cabinet vacant since the dismissals earlier this year. President Volodymyr Zelensky and his political allies could appoint new appointees to complete the government before he visits the United States in September.

The reason for the resignations was not immediately clear. The Ukrainian president did not explain the reshuffle, but said on the evening of September 3 that this fall would be a very important time for Ukraine and that it was necessary to organize state institutions so that Ukraine would get all the desired results.

In March, President Zelensky also said that the country could have a government reshuffle in the future.

The reshuffle comes at a crucial time in the fight against Russian forces advancing on the eastern front.

Mr Zelensky has ordered several reshuffles since Russia began its special military operation in February 2022. In September 2023, he fired his defense minister amid a series of corruption scandals and recently replaced the army chief after battlefield setbacks.

At least five positions remain vacant since ministers were fired or resigned earlier this year, including key ministries such as agriculture and infrastructure.

“This is a government without ministers … a personnel and intellectual crisis that the authorities are deliberately turning a blind eye to,” said opposition MP Iryna Herashchenko, who called for the formation of a national unity government.

Meanwhile, on September 4, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Ukraine's government reshuffle would not affect the prospects for peace negotiations with Russia.

According to The Moscow Times, Mr Peskov said the Kremlin was carefully monitoring resignations and appointments in Ukraine, but dismissed the possibility that these moves would bring the sides to the negotiating table. “This will have no impact and has absolutely nothing to do with the prospects of the negotiation process,” he said.