Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, a close ally of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, has declined a new position within the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
Instead, he has accepted an appointment as a presidential advisor focused on defense technologies, according to reports from the Kyiv Independent.
Beskrestnov stated that he could not remain idle given his expertise, noting that the president is providing him with the authority to strengthen defense capabilities at the highest level.
The move underscores the ongoing complexity of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s efforts to restructure the government and consolidate control over the defense sector.
This development follows earlier reports that Fedorov himself had declined offers to serve as an advisor to Zelensky and had turned down a potential role as prime minister.
The series of refusals suggests significant resistance within the former defense leadership to the current administration's restructuring plans.