Ukrainian leadership has dismissed the commander of its air force, Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleschuk. The decision follows the loss of one of its F-16 fighter jets and a top pilot earlier this week.
The crash, which is being investigated, occurred during a massive Russian strike on Ukraine, during which the F-16s were employed in an air-defense role to help eliminate Russian missiles.
The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the dismissal of Oleschuk on Friday. The decree did not provide details on why Oleschuk was suddenly removed from his position. Lt. Gen. Kryvonozhok Anatoliy Mykolayovych is set to fill the position in an interim capacity.
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Later on Friday, Zelenskyy shared a video online addressing the dismissal.
“I have decided to replace the Commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” he said, adding that he is “immensely grateful to all our military pilots, all engineers, all warriors of mobile firing groups, air defense units. All those who really fight for Ukraine — for the result.”
And the same goes for the command level — we must strengthen ourselves,” Zelenskyy said. “And take care of people. Take care of personnel — take care of all our warriors.”
Oleschuk’s removal from his position as commander comes just one day after Ukraine acknowledged that it lost one of its Western-provided F-16s during Russia’s missile and drone strike on Monday. The Ukrainian military said it lost communication with the aircraft while it was engaging the Russian threats. It was later discovered the aircraft had crashed.
The Ukrainian Air Force said that the F-16’s pilot, Oleksiy Mes, shot down three Russian cruise missiles and one attack drone before he was killed.
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“Oleksiy saved Ukrainians from deadly Russian missiles,” the Ukrainian Air Force wrote in a Telegram statement. “Unfortunately, at the cost of his own life.”
The cause of the crash is still unknown. Nevertheless, it’s a significant loss for Ukraine, which received the first batch of F-16s just a few weeks ago from its NATO allies.
An official speaking on the condition of anonymity told Ukrainska Pravda that the investigation into the accident was looking at a possible technical malfunction, pilot error, and also friendly fire as causes.
Prior to his dismissal, Oleschuk put a post on Telegram blasting critics and assuring everyone that “we will find out the causes of the aviation disaster.”
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