Oleksiy Sobolev Appointed as Deputy Head of Presidential Office by Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on Thursday, July 30, appointing former Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev as deputy head of the presidential office, putting him in charge of the office’s economic direction. Zelensky announced the appointment on his Telegram channel, saying Sobolev would work in coordination with newly appointed Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi, Minister of Economy Oleksandr Kravchenko, and other government officials, including regional and local authorities.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The corresponding decree, No. 674/2026, was published on the president’s official website. “Right now, in wartime, it is important to support economic activity in our country to the fullest extent possible – entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship – to preserve as many jobs as possible and create new ones that can provide a normal life for our people and for Ukraine,” Zelensky said. Focus on postwar recovery Sobolev is expected to coordinate with international partners to develop Ukraine’s postwar recovery plan and “fill it with concrete substance,” Zelensky said. “By the time the war ends, Ukraine must be fully ready to transition to normal civilian economic life,” Zelensky concluded, naming the preservation of Ukraine’s defense industries as a priority. Incentives must be created for Ukrainian citizens to “realize their entrepreneurial potential and professional prospects in Ukraine,” he added. Other Topics of Interest Russian Missile Kills Family of 10 in Dnipropetrovsk Region Strike The strike completely destroyed two private homes and damaged five others. Several fires broke out but have been extinguished by emergency crews. A familiar face in a new role Sobolev is no stranger to Ukraine’s economic policy. Born in 1983, he graduated from Kyiv National Economic University with a master’s degree in finance and served as an adviser to the Minister of Infrastructure from 2015 to 2016 before heading to Prozorro.Sale, an electronic auction system in Ukraine for the transparent sale and lease of state property. According to Interfax-Ukraine, he managed the state enterprise Prozorro Sale until January 2023, when he was appointed deputy economy minister for digital transformation. He was promoted to first deputy economy minister in July 2024. Sobolev rose to the title of Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture in July 2025, a post he held until July 14, 2026, when Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, voted to dismiss the entire Cabinet of Ministers under former Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko after her resignation during a broader reshuffle. On July 16, a new government was approved, led by Koretskyi, the former CEO of state-owned energy company Naftogaz. Zelensky praised Koretskyi as “most prepared” for the role, citing his experience running the state-owned gas conglomerate as the country prepares for the winter. Russian strikes are believed to be intensifying in the upcoming months, with energy and logistics infrastructure remaining likely targets, raising fears of electricity and heating shortages that could push Ukraine into a humanitarian crisis. During Zelensky’s sweeping government reshuffle, former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov was also ousted, with his resignation sparking nationwide protests. Despite ongoing protests, reports suggest that Zelensky is unwilling to reinstate Fedorov. Instead, he offered him the role of “deputy prime minister for military innovations” on July 23 – an offer Fedorov turned down. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.