Yulia Svyrydenko becomes Ukraine's 19th Prime Minister, focusing on economic revival and military strengthening amid Russian invasion.

Ukraine’s parliament has appointed Yulia Svyrydenko as prime minister, the first leadership change in five years. Tasked with boosting defense production and fixing the economy, she takes charge amid intensifying Russian attacks and a looming $19 billion budget shortfall.

Ms Svyrydenko, 39, has been serving as first deputy prime minister and economic development and trade minister since November 2021. She had been appointed to lead the revival of Ukraine’s struggling economy only months before Russia invaded in February 2022 and made her task more difficult.