Beskrestnov accuses Syrskyi of inaction on Russian MESH drone technology
Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov has accused former commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and electronic warfare leadership of a year-long failure to systematically counter Russia's MESH-based drone communications. He also claims Kyiv lacked adequate electronic warfare coverage.
Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, adviser to the Ukrainian president on defense technology development, has accused former Armed Forces of Ukraine commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and the electronic warfare (EW) leadership of failing to systematically address Russia's MESH-based communication technology in drones over the course of a year.
Writing on Facebook, Beskrestnov claimed that despite Russia actively advancing MESH modem technology, Ukraine's armed forces allegedly did not carry out systematic work on countermeasures during that period. He also stated that Kyiv had not been adequately covered by the necessary electronic warfare equipment.
As a result, he said, Ukraine is now being hit by jet-powered "Shahed" drones guided via MESH communications, and a newly formed EW team is being forced to scramble to find solutions.
Alongside his post, Beskrestnov shared a photo of the cover page of a guidance document on countering enemy drones equipped with MESH-modem-based communication channels, including the XK series used in "Gerbera" and "Geran" type drones. The document lists Beskrestnov himself as its author and is dated October 2025. Its cover states the guidance is for internal use only and is prohibited from public release. However, the published photo does not make clear whether the document was ever officially approved or implemented within the armed forces.
Beskrestnov had previously suggested that the drone that struck the Security Service of Ukraine building in central Kyiv on September 4 may have been guided via a relay device activated by a Russian agent within a 5-kilometer radius.
Since mid-July, protests had taken place in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities demanding the reinstatement of Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister and the dismissal of Syrskyi as commander-in-chief. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky subsequently announced a change of commander-in-chief, appointing Mykhailo Drapatyi to replace Syrskyi.
