President Volodymyr Zelensky signed decrees on Friday, July 17, appointing Oleksandr Poklad as the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Serhiy Beskrestnov as a freelance presidential advisor on technological defense development. According to Decree No. 622/2026, published on the Office of the President’s website, Poklad will temporarily assume the duties of the SBU head. Prior to this appointment, Poklad served as the first deputy head of the security agency.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The vacancy at the SBU follows Zelensky’s decision earlier this week to appoint the former SBU head, Yevhen Khmara, as acting defense minister amid a broader government reshuffle. Zelensky also held a meeting on July 17 with Beskrestnov, a defense technology specialist known by the call sign “Flash.” According to the president, the two discussed current technological requirements in the defense sector and agreed to cooperate on development initiatives. In a statement on Telegram, Beskrestnov confirmed the meeting and detailed his decision to accept the advisory role. He reported that Zelensky offered him a position in the newly forming Ministry of Defense, which he declined. Beskrestnov stated his refusal was based on his professional association with former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Beskrestnov explained that he initially joined the defense ministry at Fedorov’s invitation as a personal advisor and cited ethical considerations for not remaining in the ministry following Fedorov’s dismissal.