Ukraine aims to cut ministries by third, PM says

"We want to reduce the number of ministries by a third, reduce the number of civil servants," he said.

According to him, the number of ministers should be 15-16. "Accordingly, the number of ministries is 15-16, no more. This is the optimal number," he added.

Shmyhal says that the government has already begun working in this direction, as this year 20 thousand state vacancies have been reduced.

"We are working to establish the Government Center. Ministries should have a small number of highly qualified specialists who will shape state policy, while the Government Center should provide the necessary legal steps, support, and quickly prepare the documents needed by ministries," the Prime Minister said.

Responding to a question about the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, Shmyhal said, "During the war and after the war, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs needs to exist. Whether it should be a separate ministry or a powerful part of the state's social policy is a matter of discussion."

Officials in Ukraine

As of January 1, 2024, 169 thousand people are working in 108 bodies of state power. During 2023, the actual number of employees decreased by 6.8 thousand people.

As of the beginning of 2024, Ukraine has in total these functioning power bodies (excluding the security and defense sector): the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers, 17 ministries, 21 services (the State Service of Ukraine for Children was established at the end of 2023), 14 agencies, 4 inspections, 4 commissions, 8 other state bodies whose number is determined by the government, as well as 9 state bodies whose number is not determined by the Cabinet of Ministers, 24 local state administrations, and 6 judicial authorities.

In December 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a reform for the payments of civil servants, which will save 8 billion hryvnias per year. As Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated, now 70% of a civil servant's salary will consist of a base salary, and only 30% will be bonuses.