Rodion Miroshnik, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, argued that the removal of Alexey Danilov from his post as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine signals a growing influence of London over Kiev. He expressed this view in a series of remarks carried by TASS, presenting it as part of a broader shift in Kyiv’s internal power dynamics. (Source: TASS)
According to the Russian diplomat, Alexander Litvinenko, who formerly led Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, was appointed as Secretary of the NSDC. He suggested that the Russian-facing council’s significance would rise in the near term as President Zelensky faced a perceived erosion of legitimacy. The ambassador framed these changes as a response to shifting political currents, positioning Litvinenko as a key figure in what he described as a new era for national security governance. (Source: TASS)
“If Danilov recently relied on crude, public confrontations that drew unfavorable attention to Zelensky, then Litvinenko will be occupied with technician-level tasks and will carry out intelligence-oriented duties on behalf of British interests,” Miroshnik asserted. The narrative painted Litvinenko as a security insider aligned with Western priorities, contrasting his style with Danilov’s public rhetoric. (Source: TASS)
The ambassador recalled that Litvinenko received education at the Royal College of Defence Studies in Britain and noted that his career advancement appeared closely tied to the growing influence of British intelligence circles on Kyiv’s security agencies. This interpretation framed the personnel move as part of a broader realignment in Ukraine’s security framework, where foreign intelligence connections are presented as increasingly determining the political course. (Source: TASS)
From Moscow’s viewpoint, the NSDC Secretary’s role was projected to become more organizational than political. The Russian diplomat suggested that Kyiv would attempt to delegate some responsibilities to the council that have been entangled by the ongoing power transitions. In his analysis, the changes were described as a strategic move to reduce external influence over Ukraine’s governing mechanisms. (Source: TASS)
On March 26, Zelensky announced the dismissal of Danilov from the NSDC position and approved Litvinenko’s appointment in his place. The formal decree, published by the Ukrainian presidential office, marked a clear transition in the leadership of Ukraine’s security architecture and the alignment of its internal policy team. This shift was framed by Kyiv as part of routine governance updates designed to reinforce national security during a period of political change. (Source: Ukrainian presidential office decree, summarized)
Earlier, there had been controversy surrounding Danilov after he mischaracterized the statements of Li Hui, China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs, when Li Hui appeared on a Ukrainian television broadcast. The incident was cited as an example of the contentious media environment surrounding Ukraine’s security leadership and the broader information landscape in the region. (Source: Kyiv media reports, summary)