Zelensky sacks Ukraine air force commander Oleshchuk
President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Ukraine’s air force commander, Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, amidst controversy surrounding the loss of a newly acquired F-16 fighter jet.
Although Zelensky did not provide a specific reason for the removal, he stated on Telegram that he must “take care of all our warriors.”
The dismissal follows the crash of one of the US-made F-16 jets, delivered earlier this month by Ukraine’s Western allies, during a Russian missile attack on Monday. The pilot was killed, and Ukrainian authorities confirmed that the crash was not directly caused by an enemy strike. Lt. Gen. Oleshchuk had previously clashed with some politicians regarding responsibility for the incident.
In his Telegram post, Zelensky explained his decision to replace Lt. Gen. Oleshchuk, emphasizing the need to “strengthen ourselves at the command level and protect our people.”
“I am deeply grateful to all our military pilots, engineers, mobile fire group warriors, and air defense personnel,” Zelensky added. “We must ensure that those truly fighting for Ukraine and achieving results are supported and protected, particularly at the command level.”
Ukraine’s air force earlier named the killed pilot as Col Oleksiy Mes.
“He fought heroically his last battle in the skies,” it said, adding that he had shot down three cruise missiles and a drone on 26 August.
Mes, whose call sign was Moonfish, was one of Ukraine’s most experienced pilots. He had been trained abroad for F-16 missions.
Lt Gen Anatolii Kryvonozhko was appointed interim commander of Ukraine’s air force, the army’s general staff said in a statement. The officer previously oversaw the central air command, leading operations in the center of the country.
He takes charge as officials have clashed over the loss of the F-16 jet, which has ignited fierce debate in Ukraine.
Ukrainian politician Mariana Bezuhla, who sits on a parliamentary defense committee, claimed on Thursday that the jet was downed by Ukraine’s Patriot air defense system.
Mr Oleshchuk responded earlier on Friday that an investigation was underway and no one was hiding anything. He accused Ms Bezuhla of discrediting military leadership and said the time would come for an apology.
After the announcement of his dismissal, Ms Bezuhla posted on social media that truth would prevail.
Around 65 F-16s have been pledged by Nato countries since US President Joe Biden first authorized willing European allies to send them to Ukraine in August 2023.
Mr Zelensky has dismissed multiple military commanders since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
In February this year, he sacked the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
In June, he dismissed Lt Gen Yuriy Sodol after public criticism about the top general’s excessive casualties and accusations of incompetence.
