Zvarych and Bodnar Get Zelenskyy's Nod for Senior Deputy Positions at Ukraine's Foreign Ministry

Zelenskyy Moves to Fill Deputy Minister Posts at Foreign Ministry

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given his backing to Vasyl Zvarych and Vasyl Bodnar as deputies to Acting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The announcement was made during a meeting of Ukraine's top diplomats abroad. The Cabinet of Ministers still has to confirm the appointments, which are part of a broader shake-up of the diplomatic corps that the president previously touted.

Who Are the Nominees?

• Vasyl Zvarych currently serves as Ukraine's ambassador to Czechia. Born on January 27, 1977, in Stryi, Lviv Oblast, he graduated from the international relations faculty at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. His previous diplomatic assignments include stints as secretary at the Ukrainian embassy in Turkey and as a counselor at the embassy in the United States. In early 2022, he became ambassador to Poland, and since June 2024 he has been Ukraine's ambassador in Czechia.

• Vasyl Bodnar, presently ambassador to Poland, brings extensive diplomatic experience as well. His career has included serving as a counselor at the Ukrainian embassy in Turkey and as consul general in Istanbul. From 2017 to 2021, Bodnar worked as deputy foreign minister, and after 2021 he led the Ukrainian embassy in Turkey before taking up the ambassador post in Warsaw in 2024.

The president first signaled a diplomatic reshuffle in July. In June, Acting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Zelenskyy had already made decisions on changing the heads of several Ukrainian embassies. The significance of these two appointments lies in Ukraine's drive to deepen ties with international partners and make its representation abroad more effective.

Naming new deputies at the foreign ministry could point to Kyiv's intention to step up diplomatic work in response to today's geopolitical pressures.

Given the combined experience of both nominees, their confirmation may improve coordination with foreign partners and boost the performance of Ukraine's diplomatic missions worldwide.

These appointments come at a crucial time for Ukraine as the government also recently announced the selection of new leadership within the Cabinet, including a new Prime Minister and Defense Minister. This broader reshuffling reflects President Zelenskyy's strategy to strengthen the country's diplomatic and defense capabilities amid ongoing global challenges.