KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s parliament approved the promotion of the former state railway chief to a Cabinet role overseeing key industries on Tuesday in a minor reshuffle intended to strengthen the government as it tackles Russia’s invasion.
Oleksandr Kamyshin became Minister of Strategic Industries after helping keep Ukrainian Railways operational throughout the war, during which it has become a symbol of Ukrainian resilience.
Parliament also approved the expansion of Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s portfolio, making him responsible for innovation, educational development and technology as well as running the ministry of digital transformation.
Fedorov played an important role in Ukrainian efforts to secure use of the Starlink satellite internet service from billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Parliament also backed the appointment of Oksen Lisovy as minister of education and science. Lisovy was head of Ukraine’s Junior Academy of Sciences and joined the military after Moscow’s full-scale invasion last year.
In addition to trying guide the country through Russia’s invasion, the government has embarked on efforts to modernise its bureaucracy and stamp out corruption as it seeks membership of the European Union.
“Ahead lie no less difficult challenges: victory in the war, reconstruction, the development of modern education, the development of Ukrainian science and industry,” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
“That is why the new members of the government face high and ambitious goals.”
(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Editing by Timothy heritage)
