--- title: "Sergey Koretsky becomes the new Prime Minister of Ukraine: how the businessman from 'Naftogaz' is ready to manage the country in wartime" description: "πŸ”₯ Sergey Koretsky has become the new Prime Minister of Ukraine! The former head of 'Naftogaz' and 'Ukrnafta' will now lead the government during the hardest winter in years of war. His priorities: energy, defense, and social protection. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦βš‘οΈ" date: 2026-07-16T10:11:09.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sergey-koretsky-becomes-new-prime-minister-ukraine tags: [sergey-koretsky, ukraine, naftogaz, ukrnafta, volodymyr-zelensky] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Sergey Koretsky becomes the new Prime Minister of Ukraine: how the businessman from 'Naftogaz' is ready to manage the country in wartime The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted to appoint Sergey Koretsky β€” former head of 'Naftogaz' and 'Ukrnafta' β€” as the new Prime Minister. 289 people's deputies voted for the decision. This was an important step in forming a new government, which must cope with unprecedented challenges: from preparing for the hardest winter in years of war to stabilizing the economy and effectively managing international aid. ### Top priorities of the new Prime Minister: energy, defense, and social protection Before the appointment, Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined key tasks for the new government: protecting energy and fuel infrastructure, preparing the country for winter, supporting the economy, and optimizing the use of international aid. In his speech before the deputies, Koretsky emphasized that his team would focus on fully supplying the Defense Forces, increasing the potential of the defense industry, and providing social protection for the population, especially residents of frontline regions. He paid special attention to preparing for the next heating season β€” one of the most pressing issues at the moment. Also among the priorities are supporting business, deepening cooperation with international partners, and implementing housing programs for Ukrainians. ### From security guard to head of state companies: an atypical path to politics Sergey Koretsky's career is a rare example of a transition from big business to high politics without party affiliation. His path began in the late 1990s in Igor Yeremeyev and Stepan Ivakhiv's 'Continuum' group, where he rose from a security guard to the general director of the management company and the WOG gas station network. Under his leadership, the network expanded actively, new service formats were introduced, and related business was developed. In 2018, Koretsky left WOG and, together with partners, created the energy trader Centurion Group SA in Switzerland, as well as became a co-founder of the Idealist Coffee Co. coffee brand, which quickly grew into a chain of establishments. ### 'Ukrnafta' and 'Naftogaz': from losses to record profitability In November 2022, Koretsky headed 'Ukrnafta' and 'Ukrtatnafta' β€” assets seized from Ihor Kolomoyskyi. The companies were in a deep crisis after the change of control and the start of the full-scale war. In a short time, 'Ukrnafta' moved from years of losses to record profitability, increased production, updated assets, and became one of the largest taxpayers among state-owned enterprises. In the spring of 2025, Koretsky became the head of NAK 'Naftogaz of Ukraine', taking over a company with historically low gas reserves. During his tenure, reserves increased to more than 13 billion cubic meters, almost $1 billion of own funds were attracted, and €1.57 billion in financing from the EBRD, EIB, and state banks. However, the goal of increasing domestic production was not fully achieved due to regular Russian strikes on gas production infrastructure. ### Management style: business-oriented and results-driven Interlocutors in the government and within 'Naftogaz' characterize Koretsky's style as maximally business-oriented. He does not engage in micromanagement, makes decisions quickly, and delegates authority to strong managers. The main criterion for evaluating the team is the result. One of the first steps was a massive reduction of duplicate functions and optimization of staff numbers after an audit. These measures provoked an ambiguous reaction, but supporters call them necessary to increase efficiency. Koretsky is not afraid to hire people who may be more professional than he himself is in their field. This approach allows him to build a team capable of solving complex tasks in crisis conditions. ### Why him? Reputation as a crisis manager According to sources in the ruling circles, it was precisely the reputation of an effective crisis manager that became the main reason why the president considered Koretsky's candidacy. In wartime, when the country needs quick, balanced, and effective decisions, the experience of managing large strategic assets and the ability to get out of difficult situations make him an ideal candidate for the post of head of government.