Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk after the loss of a US-made F-16 fighter jet and its pilot, the presidential office in Kiev announced on Friday.
“I have decided to dismiss the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force,” Zelensky said in his video address this evening.
He thanked all members of the air force who achieved results for Ukraine. “This also applies to the command level … we need to strengthen ourselves. And take care of people,” he said.
No official reason was given for Oleshchuk’s dismissal, but a connection with the crash of the F-16 fighter jet seems likely.
The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed on Thursday that one of the few recently delivered F-16 aircraft was lost on Monday during a large-scale Russian airstrike.
However, Ukrainian lawmakers and activists did not rule out that the plane was accidentally shot down by their own anti-aircraft guns.
On Friday, Oleshchuk criticized on Telegram a member of parliament who cast doubt on the official version of the crash.
She encouraged Russian propaganda, he wrote, and threatened to take her to court. The loss of the plane would be investigated, including in cooperation with the US, the country that produced it, he added.
The commander has led the Ukrainian Air Force since 2021. No details have yet been released about his successor.
Ukraine is defending itself against the large-scale Russian invasion, which began in February 2022, with significant support from the West.
After months of waiting, Ukraine only unveiled its first F-16 aircraft earlier this month.
The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway have pledged to provide Kiev with modern fighter jets.
