President Zelenskyy Dismisses Air Force Commander After F-16 Crash
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has relieved the commander of the country’s air force, Mykola Oleshchuk, in a move to protect personnel following the crash of an F-16 warplane during a Russian attack, resulting in the pilot’s death.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need to strengthen the army’s leadership and appointed Anatolii Kryvonozhko as the acting air force commander. The dismissal came after Oleshchuk criticized a lawmaker for baseless claims regarding the F-16 crash.
While investigations are ongoing, US experts have joined the probe to determine the cause of the crash, which may not be linked to Russian fire. Although F-16 jets are not considered a game-changer in the conflict, they provide Ukraine with the ability to counter Russia’s air dominance.
The F-16 crash marks the first reported loss of the aircraft in Ukraine, where several jets were recently delivered. Despite facing formidable Russian forces, Ukraine remains committed to defending its sovereignty with the support of its Western partners.
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