Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, the country's Air Force commander, on Friday. The decision comes just days after an F-16 fighter jet, recently acquired from Western allies, crashed during a major Russian offensive, leading to the death of its pilot.
The dismissal, announced through a decree on the presidential website, underscores Zelenskyy's commitment to reinforcing military leadership amid escalating hostilities. "We need to protect people. Protect personnel. Take care of all our soldiers," Zelenskyy said shortly after the order was published. Lt. Gen. Anatolii Kryvonozhko has been appointed as the acting commander, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The F-16 crash occurred on Monday, when the Ukrainian military was engaged in repelling a large-scale Russian bombardment. The jet, part of a new arsenal of Western-supplied equipment, went down while approaching a Russian target. The pilot, whose identity has not been disclosed, was killed in the incident. The crash marks the first reported loss of an F-16 in Ukraine, which received its first batch of these advanced jets at the end of last month.
Oleshchuk, in his final hours as commander, publicly criticized claims made by Mariana Bezuhla, a deputy head of the Ukrainian parliament's defense committee, who suggested that the F-16 might have been downed by a Patriot air-defense system. Bezuhla's remarks ignited a fierce response from Oleshchuk, who accused her of defaming the Air Force and undermining U.S. arms manufacturers. "The truth will win," Bezuhla posted on social media shortly after Oleshchuk's dismissal was announced.
The Ukrainian Air Force has not directly addressed whether the F-16 was hit by a Patriot missile, and U.S. experts have joined the ongoing investigation. A U.S. defense official indicated that initial assessments suggest the crash was not caused by Russian fire, and possibilities such as pilot error or mechanical failure are still under review.
In the wake of the crash, Zelenskyy has pointed to the incident as a further reason for urging Western allies to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of donated weapons. "This strike would not have happened if our defense forces had the capability to destroy Russian military aviation at its bases," Zelenskyy stated. He has called for stronger support from Western partners to enhance Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian aggression.
The F-16s, seen as a significant upgrade for Ukraine's air capabilities, are expected to play a crucial role in countering Russia's air superiority. However, military analysts have cautioned that the aircraft alone may not be a game-changer given the scale of Russia's air power and sophisticated defense systems.
On the ground, the conflict continues to exact a heavy toll. Recent Russian attacks on Kharkiv have resulted in numerous casualties, including the death of a 14-year-old girl and the injury of 47 others. The regional governor reported that powerful plane-launched glide bombs struck multiple locations, including a residential building that caught fire and left survivors trapped.
In response to the escalating violence, the European Union has stepped up its support for Ukraine. Defense ministers agreed to expand their training program, raising the target to 75,000 Ukrainian troops by the end of the year. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced that a new coordination cell will be established in Kyiv to streamline training efforts.
