The Shmyhal government () was the 5th government of Ukraine after 2014 revolution, formed on 4 March 2020 and led by Denys Shmyhal, who was previously serving as deputy prime minister in the Honcharuk government, and the Governor of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. Shmyhal is the longest-serving prime minister in Ukrainian history.
The government was dismissed on 16 July 2025 with 261 votes "for", following the resignation of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
History President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's first government was the Honcharuk Government, formed after the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election. However, Zelenskyy was dissatisfied with the government due to high ministerial salaries and poor performance. On 3 March 2020, Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk tendered his resignation, and by law this triggered the automatic resignation of the Honcharuk Government.Ukrainian parliament approves new government composition, Ukrinform (4 March 2020) In his 4 March 2020 address to the parliament, Zelenskyy expressed his hope for a stronger government, and that day Honcharuk was dismissed by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) and Denys Shmyhal was appointed prime minister.A New Government for Ukraine: One Female Minister and "Indispensable" Arsen Avakov, Hromadske.TV (4 March 2020)Denys Shmyhal is the new Prime Minister of Ukraine, Centre for Eastern Studies (5 March 2020)
The transition from the Honcharuk government was treated in some local press as worrisome, with the Kyiv Post calling it "hasty" and "awkward".
Appointment of Shmyhal The appointment of Shmyhal as the Prime Minister of Ukraine was approved by the Verkhovna Rada in a special session on 4 March 2020. Shmyhal was an acting vice prime minister at the time of his appointment; he had previously served as Governor of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. 291 people's deputies voted for his candidacy, while the members of most of the other factions (Opposition Platform — For Life, European Solidarity, Batkivshchyna, and Holos) did not support it. Appointment voteDenys Shmyhal (Independent)FactionForAgainstAbstainedDid not voteAbsentServant of the People2482420105Opposition Platform — For Life44035234European Solidarity27024012Batkivshchyna24002013For the Future22180022Independents21140412Holos20001910Dovira17170000Total4232915946918
Composition At the time of appointment of the government five minister seats remained vacant at the following ministries: the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Education. Four ministers kept the same post as they had in the previous Honcharuk government: the Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Justice Minister Denys Maliuska, Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy, and Interior Minister Arsen Avakov. Two ministers switched posts: Vadym Prystaiko left the Foreign Ministry and became the Deputy Prime Minister for Eurointegration while Dmytro Kuleba did the complete opposite, taking on the post of the minister of foreign affairs. On 18 May 2021 parliament dismissed Krykliy as minister.Ukrainian parliament accepts Infrastructure Ministry's resignation, UNIAN (18 May 2021)
All the ministerial posts — apart from those of the Ministers of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs that were put forward for voting by President Zelensky as these post are presidential nominationsMember of Parliament shares list of possible members of government, UNIAN (3 March 2020) — were voted in by a package vote, with the support of 277 people's deputies.
Health Minister Illia Yemets and Finance Minister Ihor Umanskyi were dismissed by the parliament on 30 March 2020.Ukraine's Rada sacks health, finance ministers amid virus crisis, UNIAN (30 March 2020)
Initially the government did not have a separate Environmental Minister (the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection was at first responsible for environmental policies), but on 19 June 2020 Roman Abramovsky was appointed Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.Ukraine's parliament backs appointment of new environment minister, UNIAN (19 June 2020)
On 4 July 2020 President Zelenskyy announced that a (new post of) Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Policy could appear in the government in a week. "Servants of the People" have decided on the Deputy Prime Minister of Industrial Policy, waiting for support in the Rada, Ukrayinska Pravda (10 July 2020) On 16 July 2020 Oleh Urusky was appointed Vice Prime Minister responsible for the new Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine.Urusky appointed Ukraine's deputy PM, minister for strategic industrial sectors, UNIAN (16 July 2020) A new ministry has appeared in Ukraine, Ukrayinska Pravda (22 July 2020)
In the (previous government installed in August 2019) Honcharuk government the ministry responsible for agricultural policies was the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture.New Cabinet formed in Ukraine The Rada appointed the new Cabinet: Avakov and Markarova remained, Ukrayinska Pravda (29 August 2019) But in January 2020 President Zelenskyy stated the need to split the agriculture part of this Ministry.President: At most in September we will have a separate Minister of Agrarian Policy, Ukrayinska Pravda (9 July 2020) When the Shmyhal government was formed the Minister (in the Honcharuk government) of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture, Tymofiy Mylovanov refused to head a newly reestablish Ministry of Agriculture.Milovanov explained why he refused to work in the new government, Ukrayinska Pravda (5 March 2020) On 9 July 2020 Zelenskyy predicted that "at maximum in September" Ukraine would have a separate Minister of Agriculture again. On 17 December 2020 Roman Leshchenko was appointed as Minister of Agricultural Policy and Food.Parliament appoints Leshchenko as agricultural policy minister, Ukrinform (17 December 2020 – 24 March 2022) Mykola Solskyi replaced him on 24 March 2022.Lawmaker Solskyi accepts offer to become Ukraine's agriculture minister, Reuters (24 March 2022)
Veteran Minister Serhiy Bessarab resigned on 16 December 2020 for health reasons. The council fired the veterans' minister, Ukrayinska Pravda (16 December 2020) He was replaced two days later with Yulia Laputina.Laputina appointed as Ukraine's minister for veterans affairs, Ukrinform (18 December 2020)
On 18 May 2021 the Ukrainian parliament dismissed Ihor Petrashko as Minister of Economic Development and Trade.Lawmakers back Economy Ministry's resignation, UNIAN (18 May 2021) Two days later his successor became Oleksiy Liubchenko, who was also appointed First Deputy Prime Minister.Rada appoints Liubchenko as First Dpty PM, Minister of Economy – 293 affirmative votes, Interfax-Ukraine (21 May 2021) Liubchenko was dismissed by Parliament on 3 November 2021.Rada dismisses Liubchenko from post of First Dpty PM, Economy Minister, Interfax-Ukraine (3 November 2021)
On 12 July 2021 Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov announced that he had submitted his resignation as Interior Minister, and his resignation was accepted by parliament two days later.Rada supports Avakov's resignation, Interfax-Ukraine (15 July 2021)Ukraine's interior minister resigns, Reuters (13 July 2021) On 16 July 2021 Denys Monastyrsky was appointed Avakov's successor.Parliament appoints Monastyrsky as Ukraine's interior minister, Ukrinform (16 July 2021) Following his January 2023 death in a helicopter crash, Monastyrsky was succeeded by Ihor Klymenko on 7 February 2023. National deputies voted for the new head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ukrainska Pravda (7 February 2023)
Environmental minister Roman Abramovsky and minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine Oleh Urusky and Minister of Defence Andriy Taran were dismissed by Parliament on 3 November 2021.MPs dismiss Abramovsky as Ukraine's environment minister, Ukrinform (3 November 2021)Parliament dismisses Deputy Prime Minister Urusky, Ukrinform (3 November 2021)Verkhovna Rada dismisses Defense Minister Andriy Taran, Ukrinform (3 November 2021)
On 2 December 2022 the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development and the Ministry of Infrastructure were merged, creating the Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure. Infrastructure minister Oleksandr Kubrakov took over as head of the combined ministry.
Three Ministers were dismissed by parliament on 20 March 2023; Minister of Education and Science Serhiy Shkarlet, Minister of Strategic Industries Pavlo Riabikin and the Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov. The same day parliament received Prime Minister Shmyhal's submissions on the appointment of three ministers; Mykhailo Fedorov as Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science and Technology, Minister of Digital Transformation, Oksen Lisovyi as Minister of Education and Science and Oleksandr Kamyshin as Minister of Strategic Industries. On 21 March 2023 all three were appointed to these posts.
On 27 July 2023 Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko was dismissed by parliament after criticism, also by President Zelenskyy, of government spending on Ukrainian culture during wartime.
On 6 September 2023 Rustem Umierov replaced Oleksii Reznikov as defense minister of Ukraine.
On 19 November 2024 President Zelenskyy announced the creation of a new (to be formed) ministry, the Ministry of Unification of Ukrainians. Zelenskyy claimed this new ministry was necessary for the "institutional strengthening of the policy towards Ukrainians abroad, towards our people from all waves of migration."
On 3 December 2024 Oleksiy Chernyshov was appointed as the Minister of National Unity of Ukraine. He was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine. The Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories was renamed to the Ministry of National Unity of Ukraine.