Ukraine’s parliament has approved Denys Shmyhal as the country’s new minister of energy following a second round of voting in the Verkhovna Rada.

A total of 248 lawmakers voted in favor of Shmyhal’s appointment during Wednesday’s plenary session, clearing the required majority. The confirmation came a day after an earlier vote failed to pass, when his nomination fell short of the minimum number of votes needed.

Shmyhal takes over leadership of the energy ministry at a difficult time for Ukraine, as the country continues to face sustained Russian attacks on power infrastructure. The strikes have caused widespread electricity and heating disruptions, with some areas experiencing blackouts lasting most of the day amid freezing winter conditions.

The appointment marks Shmyhal’s return to the energy sector. He previously served as Ukraine’s longest-serving prime minister before being appointed defense minister, a role he held for about six months. Earlier in his career, he also headed one of Ukraine’s major thermal power plants, giving him hands-on experience in the energy industry.

Ukraine’s energy ministry has been without a permanent head for nearly two months. The previous minister, Svitlana Hrynchuk, was dismissed in late 2025 after being linked to a major corruption scandal that also involved a former energy minister.

Shmyhal’s nomination is part of a broader cabinet reshuffle aimed at strengthening government leadership as the war enters a more intense phase, with increasing pressure on critical infrastructure. Earlier this week, parliament voted to remove Shmyhal from his post as defense minister, with former digital transformation minister Mykhailo Fedorov appointed as his replacement.