Yurii Serhiiovych Biriukov also known as Phoenix (born 23 October 1974) is a Ukrainian businessman and politician who, through a group of Phoenix Wings volunteers, provided support to Ukrainian troops during the War in Donbas. He was an advisor to former President Petro Poroshenko (August 2014 to May 2019), and the Minister of Defense (October 2014 to 2019). He is a member of the Central Council and a member of the Presidium of the Central Council of the European Solidarity political party. Biography From 1981 to 1991 he studied at the Mykolaiv school No. 22. He studied at the Dnipro Medical Institute, but did not graduate from it. In 1993, he passed the exams for admission to the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, but did not pass the entrance competition. He lives in Kyiv since 1994. In 1996, he founded the company «Computer Zone», in 1999 he worked in the company «RIM2000». He worked in intensive care for many years. From 2012 to February 2014 he worked as a development director at the travel agency «Kuda Uhodno» and the director of its head office. He owns an IT business in the United States and an agricultural project in the Mykolayiv region. From December 1, 2013, he took part in Euromaidan, was a volunteer doctor. In March 2014, he formed a group of Phoenix Wings volunteers to support the Ukrainian army after the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea and continued to work with the start of the War in Donbass (in eastern Ukraine). On August 13, 2014, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko appointed Biryukov his advisor. On October 5, Biryukov was appointed Minister of Defense Valeriy Heletey Assistant for material support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After his resignation, Heletey continued his work under the leadership of the new Minister Stepan Poltorak. He is currently reforming the logistics of the armed forces and the procedure for mobilizing conscripts. In February 2016, Biryukov headed the Mykolaiv regional organization of Petro Poroshenko Bloc. On February 11, 2017, he was introduced to the Commission on State Awards and Heraldry. On May 17, 2019, he was dismissed from the post of Adviser to the President of Ukraine at his own request. Candidate for People's Deputies from the European Solidarity Party in the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election, No. 32 on the list. In this election European Solidarity won 23 seats on the nationwide party list