The Verkhovna Rada appointed Shmyhal as the first Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Energy.

Appointment of Denys Shmyhal

According to TSN.ua: The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appointed Denys Shmyhal to the position of First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Energy. This decision was made on January 14, when 248 members of parliament supported his candidacy. Previously, on January 13, 210 deputies voted for Shmyhal's appointment out of the required 226 votes.

Denys Shmyhal, who previously held the position of Minister of Defense since July 2025 and was Prime Minister for over five years, received this new appointment amid the current challenges in the energy sector. It is important to note that on the same day, January 14, the Verkhovna Rada also appointed Mykhailo Fedorov as Minister of Defense, who was dismissed from the position of First Vice Prime Minister – Minister of Digital Transformation the day before. His candidacy was supported by 277 deputies.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude to Denys Shmyhal for his systematic work in the Ministry of Defense and for activating the processes aimed at ensuring the protection of the state.

Current Challenges in Energy

The appointment of Denys Shmyhal to this new position underscores the importance of the energy sector in the context of the modern challenges faced by Ukraine. The situation in the energy sector remains critical, considering the need for stability and effective resource management. This appointment also indicates a change in the government that may influence the further development of policies in other key areas, particularly in defense and digital transformation.