MOSCOW. July 16 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada accepted Denis Shmygal's resignation as prime minister at a meeting on Wednesday, Ukrainian media reported.
The Rada had appointed Shmygal to the post on March 4, 2020. He had previously served as deputy prime minister and minister for the development of communities and territories. Earlier, he had led the Ivano-Frankovsk regional administration.
Shmygal has served as Ukrainian prime minister for five years and four months, which is longer than any other prime minister in Ukraine's modern history.
The Ukrainian law on the Cabinet of Ministers stipulates that the acceptance by the Rada of a prime minister's resignation entails the entire government's resignation.
President Vladimir Zelensky had said previously that he saw Shmygal as defense minister in a new government. He offered the prime ministerial office to First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko.
The Rada is expected to consider Sviridenko's appointment to the post later on Wednesday.