Zelenskyy ends postings of several ambassadors and appoints new UNESCO envoy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a series of decrees introducing personnel changes to Ukraine's diplomatic corps, relieving Ukraine's ambassadors to several countries of their posts and appointing a new permanent delegate to UNESCO.

Source: decrees No. 697/2026–703/2026 published on the website of the Office of the President

Details: According to the published decrees, the president relieved Vadym Omelchenko from his duties as Ukraine's Permanent Delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), a position he held concurrently with his role as Ukraine's ambassador to France.

Viktoriia Lialina-Boiko has been appointed as Ukraine's new Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. She previously served as director of the Department of Public Diplomacy and Strategic Communications at Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Zelenskyy also relieved Vasyl Khymynets of his post as Ukraine's ambassador to Austria, and Volodymyr Khomanets of his post as Ukraine's ambassador to Tunisia and, concurrently, ambassador to Libya.

The president further ended the posting of Valerii Yevdokymov as Ukraine's ambassador to Tajikistan, Valerii Zhovtenko as ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, and Kateryna Zelenko as ambassador to Singapore and Brunei Darussalam.

The published decrees do not specify the reasons behind the diplomatic reshuffle, nor do they contain any information on appointments of new heads of mission to these countries.

Background:

• On 3 August, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy relieved Olha Stefanishyna of her post as Ukraine's ambassador to the United States.
• On 30 July, Stefanishyna said that Zelenskyy had not asked her to resign. According to Stefanishyna, the decision to step down was her own and was prompted by personal circumstances.

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