Zelensky Refreshes Top Team as War Enters Critical Phase

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has reshuffled key members of his administration, seeking to inject “new energy” into his government as the war with Russia approaches a potentially decisive phase.

Most notably, Zelensky’s government has appointed Andrii Sybiha as the new foreign minister.

Sybiha, a seasoned diplomat and former ambassador to Turkey, steps into a role vacated by Dmytro Kuleba, one of the country’s most prominent international figures throughout the war.

The 49-year-old has been serving as Kuleba’s deputy since April.

Kuleba had been a vocal advocate for Ukraine on the global stage, rallying Western nations to provide military and humanitarian support.

Nearly a dozen high-level officials in various sectors—including justice, natural resources, and strategic industries—have also been shuffled.

The reshuffle comes at a crucial juncture, with the war now more than 900 days long.

Russia’s humanitarian toll continue to rise. On Thursday, Ukraine’s Interior Ministry announced that the death toll from a Russian missile strike on a military training school in Poltava had risen to 55, with 328 others wounded.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

As Ukraine prepares for a harsh winter, its power grid remains highly vulnerable after Russian missile and drone attacks knocked out roughly 70% of the country’s energy generation capacity.

Many Ukrainians face the grim prospect of enduring freezing temperatures without heat or water in the months ahead.

On the military front, the Ukrainian armed forces have launched a high-risk offensive in Russia’s Kursk border region.

But Ukrainian troops remain outgunned in the east, where Russian forces have been gradually pushing deeper, threatening key defensive positions.

In addition to these military challenges, Ukrainian civilians remain at risk from continued Russian aerial strikes, which have targeted both infrastructure and population centers.

Despite the cabinet overhaul, no major policy shifts are expected under Zelensky’s new administration.

The president, who has been in power since 2019, has extended his leadership beyond his original five-year mandate due to martial law.

His popularity remains largely unchallenged within Ukraine—a once sky-high 90% approval rating at the beginning of the war has since settled at around 65%.

Balancing military strategy, political pressures, and humanitarian crises remains a formidable challenge as the war continues to test governance on multiple fronts.

“These new steps are connected to strengthening our state in different directions,” he said at a press conference.

Zelensky hasn’t shied away from bold moves, even when they risk alienation.

In a bid to revive momentum on the battlefield, he replaced his top general in February.

A year earlier, defense minister Oleksii Reznikov resigned after Zelensky announced plans to replace him and named his successor.

Kyiv officials must navigate the potential impact of the U.S. presidential election in November, which could alter Western policy toward the war.

In his new role as foreign minister, Sybiha will face the daunting task of rallying Western allies for their continued support, especially as concerns about “war fatigue” emerge in some countries.

Kyiv’s primary request remains additional air defense systems to counter Russian strikes.

There are also discussions on the global stage regarding the desire to use Western-supplied weapons on Russian soil—something many Western leaders are hesitant to approve for fear of escalating the conflict.

In addition to the personnel changes, international diplomacy will continue to be critical.

This week, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. C.Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will meet with European counterparts in Germany to discuss Ukraine’s defense needs.

Congress has voted through five bills that have provided Ukraine with aid, totaling $175 billion.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press