Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the air force commander after a fatal crash involving an F-16 fighter jet. Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk was replaced by Lt. Gen. Anatolii Kryvonozhko to strengthen the army’s command level.
The crash raised questions about the use of U.S.-made Patriot air-defense systems, with a lawmaker accusing the system of downing the jet. The air force did not confirm or deny these claims but stated that U.S. experts are assisting in the investigation.
In a separate incident, a Russian attack on the city of Kharkiv resulted in civilian casualties, prompting Zelenskyy to call for expanded military capabilities. He emphasized the need to target Russian military aviation bases to counter the ongoing terror in Ukraine.
F-16 jets, recently acquired by Ukraine, offer a limited advantage against Russia’s air force. However, the conflict in eastern Ukraine continues, with concerns over potential losses of Western-provided military equipment impacting Ukraine’s defense strategy.
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