Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the media in front of an F-16 fighter jet during Ukrainian Air Forces Day on August 4. IMAGE: Getty Images
In Summary:
- President Volodymyr Zelensky has removed Air Force Commander Lt Gen Mykola Oleshchuk after the crash of an F-16 jet, raising questions within Ukraine.
- The F-16, a critical asset provided by Western allies, crashed earlier this week, with investigations ongoing into the cause of the incident.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the commander of Ukraine’s Air Force, Lt Gen Mykola Oleshchuk, following the tragic crash of one of the country’s newly acquired F-16 fighter jets.
The jet, which was part of a batch delivered by Ukraine’s Western allies, went down on Monday during a Russian missile barrage, resulting in the death of the pilot, Col Oleksiy Mes.
The arrival of the initial F-16 jets marked a significant milestone for Ukraine in its battle against the full-scale invasion launched by Russia two and a half years ago.
The arrival of the initial F-16 jets marked a significant milestone for Ukraine in its battle against the full-scale invasion launched by Russia two and a half years ago. FILE IMAGE.
In an official decree announced on Friday, Zelensky did not provide a specific reason for Oleshchuk’s dismissal but emphasized the need to protect personnel and strengthen command structures.
“At the command level, we must strengthen ourselves and protect our people,” he stated.
“I have decided to replace the commander of the Air Forces… I am eternally grateful to all our military pilots,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his evening address.
The crash has ignited a heated debate within Ukraine, especially after Ukrainian politician Mariana Bezuhla suggested that the F-16 might have been downed by Ukraine’s own Patriot air defense system.
Lt Gen Oleshchuk responded by confirming that an investigation is underway and criticized Bezuhla for potentially discrediting the military leadership.
Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk awards medals to the Air Force’s anti-aircraft missile troops defending Kyiv Oblast and surrounding regions at a secret location on June 20, 2023. (Mykola Oleshchuk/Telegram)
The Ukrainian General Staff has appointed Lt Gen Anatolii Kryvonozhko as the interim commander of the Air Force. Kryvonozhko, who previously led the central air command, takes over at a time when tensions are high due to the loss of the F-16 and the ongoing Russian attacks across Ukraine.
President Zelensky has shown a pattern of dismissing military leaders during the ongoing conflict, including the recent removal of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and other top officials earlier this year.
The current dismissal reflects ongoing efforts to adapt Ukraine’s military leadership in response to the challenges posed by Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.
As the investigation into the F-16 crash continues, Zelensky reiterated his calls for Ukraine’s international partners to support strikes on targets within Russia to prevent further attacks on Ukrainian soil.
His office reported that Russian forces have launched over 400 drones and missiles at Ukraine in the past week alone, further escalating the conflict.