“248 People’s Deputies voted for Shmygal’s appointment.”, — write: www.unian.ua
248 People’s Deputies voted for Shmygal’s appointment.
Shmyhal became the new minister of energy / photo UNIANThe Verkhovna Rada appointed Denys Shmyhal as the First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Energy of Ukraine. 248 people’s deputies supported the decision.
During his speech, Shmyhal named three main priorities in his new position, among which is restoration. It is, in particular, about the restoration of generation, substations, and distribution networks. Formation of capacity and equipment reserve.
“It is necessary to create so-called “energy battalions” in the front-line territories, staffed by specialists, equipped with equipment and reliable protection. To introduce additional payments to energy workers and repair crews,” he said after the appointment.
Shmyhal also promised to work on strengthening active and passive protection of energy facilities. In particular, the new minister plans to focus on the expansion of the project to install EW and PPO systems with the participation of energy companies, as well as the construction of protection of energy facilities and the development of decentralized generation.
Shmyhal called modernization the third priority in his position. He explained that it is necessary to complete the integration into the European energy space and continue the modernization of power transmission lines on the border with the EU. He also promises to develop new oil and gas fields.
Answering the questions of people’s deputies, Shmyhal, among other things, said that he wants to speed up the completion of nuclear units at the Khmelnytskyi NPP.
“Nuclear energy is the basis of our energy system… Khmelnytskyi station is the closest to the construction of nuclear units, so my position will be to develop this direction and build it as soon as possible,” he emphasized.
In addition, the official stated that he allows the privatization of Centernergo PJSC.
Yesterday, January 13, during the voting in the parliament hall, the Verkhovna Rada voted for the resignation of Denys Shmygal from the post of Minister of Defense of Ukraine. But on the same day, there were not enough votes to appoint Shmyhal as Minister of Energy and First Deputy Prime Minister – only 210 People’s Deputies voted “for”.
As you know, Denys Shmyhal held the post of Prime Minister of Ukraine for more than five years – this is the longest term of one person at the head of the government. In July 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced the transformation of the executive power system and offered the post of Prime Minister to Yulia Svyridenko, then Minister of Economy.
Shmyhal’s resignation from the post of prime minister is the main newsOn July 16, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada supported the decision on the resignation of Denys Shmyhal from the position of head of government together with the Cabinet of Ministers. At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi offered Shmyhal to head the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, replacing Rustem Umerov in this position. Zelenskyy emphasized that the experience of Denys Shmyhal “will definitely be useful in the position of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine.”
Already on July 17, the Verkhovna Rada voted to appoint Shmyhal as Minister of Defense. At the beginning of January, the president offered Shmyhal a new position – first deputy prime minister and minister of energy. Zelenskyi noted that systematization is now necessary for the Ukrainian energy industry, “so that after each Russian attack we can quickly restore the destroyed and that the development of the Ukrainian energy industry is stable.”
The chair of the head of the Ministry of Energy remained vacant after the dismissal of Svitlana Grynchuk in November 2025 against the background of a corruption scandal at Energoatom following the results of the NABU investigation.
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