Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has initiated a large-scale personnel rotation within the country's diplomatic corps. A series of decrees signed by the head of state provide for the dismissal of several high-ranking diplomats representing Kyiv's interests in key regions of the world.

Documents published on the official website of the President's Office, numbered from 697/2026 to 703/2026, record the departure of several serving ambassadors from the diplomatic service. The text of the orders does not disclose the reasons for the decisions made; however, the fact of the simultaneous dismissal of such a significant number of diplomats indicates a serious review of foreign policy strategy.

Change of leadership at UNESCO

One of the central personnel decisions was the change in Ukraine's representation at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The President dismissed Vadym Omelchenko from the position of Permanent Representative to UNESCO. Previously, he combined this function with the post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to France.

Victoria Lyalina-Boiko has been appointed to the vacant position. Before transitioning to the status of Permanent Representative, she headed the Department of Public Diplomacy and Strategic Communications of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. This appointment indicates a possible emphasis on information and image support for foreign policy tasks in the humanitarian sphere.

Personnel reshuffles in Europe and Africa

Significant changes affected diplomatic missions in Europe and North Africa. The decree on dismissal was issued for Vasyl Khymynets — Ambassador of Ukraine to Austria. In the African region, the personnel purge affected Volodymyr Khomanets, who left the posts of Ambassador to Tunisia and Ambassador to Libya (concurrently).

Rotation in Central Asia and Southeast Asia

The list of dismissed diplomats also includes representatives in Central Asian and Southeast Asian countries. The President signed decrees on the dismissal of:

  • Valeriy Yevdokymov — Ambassador of Ukraine to Tajikistan;
  • Valeriy Zhovtenko — Ambassador of Ukraine to Kyrgyzstan;
  • Kateryna Zelenko — Ambassador to Singapore and Brunei Darussalam.

At present, there is no information on the appointment of new heads of diplomatic missions in Austria, Tunisia, Libya, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, and Brunei. Official sources have not yet commented on the reasons for such a large-scale change of personnel, leaving room for various assumptions regarding the future vector of Ukrainian diplomacy.