Attempt on the Life of Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Advisor
A Russian Telegram channel published a post claiming responsibility for an assassination attempt on Serhiy Beskrestnov, an advisor to Ukraine’s Minister of Defense. However, the post was deleted by evening. Beskrestnov, also known by the call sign 'Flash,' took screenshots of the message and released them publicly. According to the deleted post, the advisor’s official residence is registered in Kyiv, but he actually lives in Brovary. The address was reportedly identified by Russian intelligence assets, which, as Beskrestnov stated, 'do not work with passport offices but with live targets.'
Strike on a Private Residence
In the early hours of April 20, Russian forces launched five Shahed drones at Beskrestnov’s private home in Brovary. One of the guided drones struck the wall, completely burning down the building. Beskrestnov was wounded but survived, while his family escaped unharmed.
Beskrestnov serves as an advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Minister of Defense on electronic warfare and communications. In his commentary, he noted that
“they have opened a 'Pandora’s box,' creating a precedent” – Serhiy Beskrestnov
, emphasizing that Ukraine also possesses sufficient diplomatic data on the whereabouts of Russian war criminals.
This incident highlights the severe threats facing Ukrainian military personnel and officials amid the ongoing war. The attack on a defense ministry advisor underscores the intensification of Russian efforts to physically eliminate key military figures in Ukraine. It reinforces the critical need for security and information protection regarding the locations of military and official personnel in the volatile frontline environment.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of escalating violence against Ukrainian military officials. For a deeper understanding of the recent challenges faced by those in the defense sector, including details about the attack on Beskrestnov's residence, read more about how Ukrainian defense advisors are navigating these perilous circumstances in our related article on the survival of defense advisors amid drone strikes.