Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov and Serhii Sternenko say they are no longer advisers to defence minister

Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov and Serhii Sternenko have announced that they are no longer advisers to Ukraine's defence minister and commented on Mykhailo Fedorov's dismissal.

Source: "Flash" Beskrestnov; Sternenko

Quote from "Flash": "From today, I am no longer an adviser to Defence Minister Fedorov.

Dear manufacturers, developers and members of the military, from now on I can no longer help you at the Ministry of Defence level. I'm sorry.

It was an honour for me to be part of Fedorov's team. We had so many plans and ideas for the future, but unfortunately..."

Details: "Flash" added that he could not speak about unfinished projects because "someone has to continue working on them", as "the war goes on".

Quote from "Flash": "I had access to many different systems, which allowed me to analyse the actions of our enemy and predict its next moves. I will no longer be able to do that.

...But I will not abandon my path. I will continue defending the country and helping my brothers-in-arms."

Details: Sternenko also announced earlier that he is no longer an adviser to the defence minister.

Quote from Sternenko: "From today, I am no longer an adviser to the defence minister, which undoubtedly reduces my ability to help meaningfully improve the situation with drones in the military. We were just about to finalise new procurement requirements for FPV drones that would have allowed the Armed Forces to receive the best available equipment and develop infrastructure for deeper strikes. I hope they will eventually be approved.

For our part, we will continue supplying the military with top-quality equipment through our foundation, although naturally on a smaller scale. Together with all of you."

Details: Sternenko outlined in his post what had and had not been achieved during his time in the role and thanked Fedorov and the team "that I had the honour to be part of".

Quote from Sternenko: "It is painful that today our country has moved further away from victory.

It is painful that genuine reforms were not even given the chance to begin, although we still managed to change many things.

But I am not disappointed in you – the people who see and understand everything. And who continue to support us.

This is definitely not the end."

Previously: Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov summed up his tenure, thanked those who supported him and said he will continue his mission to "defeat the enemy through asymmetry, the speed of innovation and the power of organisation".

According to Ukrainska Pravda sources within the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not put Fedorov forward for the post of defence minister. Instead, he is expected to nominate Ihor Klymenko, who is currently serving as acting Interior Minister.

Sources in the faction also say Fedorov remains on the president's team, "but what he will do next will become clearer next week".

Background:

• In January, "Flash" Beskrestnov became an adviser to Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on technology issues.
• A few days earlier, Fedorov appointed volunteer and blogger Serhii Sternenko as an adviser on expanding the use of UAVs on the battlefield.

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