Ukrainian Government Appoints Tetyana Berezhna as Acting Minister of Culture Amid Major Reforms
The Cabinet of Ukraine has made a pivotal decision to appoint Tetyana Berezhna as the interim acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications.
This measure aims to ensure stability and effective management of the ministry during a period of significant transformation within the cultural sector.
According to official sources, this decision was driven by the need to address challenges faced by Ukraine’s cultural infrastructure amidst ongoing wartime conditions, with a focus on maintaining governance, financial capacity, and engagement with cultural communities.
First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko emphasized Berezhna’s extensive management experience in government policies, international projects, and cooperation with global organizations.
This background is considered crucial for implementing reforms and securing necessary funding for cultural initiatives.
Berezhna is expected to focus on auditing sector needs, intensifying dialogue with donors, and securing additional resources.
Her previous work within the Ministry of Economy, particularly in reforms and international partnerships, underscores her capacity to carry out such responsibilities.
Notably, she is Ukraine’s commissioner for EXPO 2025 in Japan, demonstrating her ability to handle international projects at a high level.
The government highlights the importance of team cohesion, with particular attention to retaining key deputies such as Galyana Hryhorenko and Anastasia Bondar, to sustain organizational effectiveness.
Plans are also underway to establish a dedicated direction for information policy and strategic communications, providing clear mandates and resources to strengthen the country’s information resilience.
This temporary leadership change aligns with broader governmental reforms aimed at rethinking policy approaches and increasing the effectiveness of state administration in culture and communications.
The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to renewing cultural policies and enhancing Ukraine’s external informational presence.
In late 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed restructuring the government, suggesting the appointment of Julia Sviridenko as Prime Minister and Denys Shmyhal, the current PM, as Minister of Defense.
Shmyhal submitted his resignation on July 15, with his departure marking the resignation of the entire government.
On July 16, Zelensky introduced the new cabinet members, including a temporary vacant position for the Minister of Culture following Mykola Toychitsky’s resignation.
The search for a permanent minister continues, with plans to transfer strategic communications and information policy roles to a separate agency directly reporting to the Prime Minister.