Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the commander of the country’s air force, Mykola Oleshchuk, following the crash of an F-16 warplane during a Russian bombardment that killed the pilot. Zelenskyy stated that the priority is to protect personnel and strengthen the army’s command level. Anatolii Kryvonozhko has been appointed as the acting air force commander.
The dismissal came after Oleshchuk criticized a lawmaker for claiming that the F-16 was downed by a Patriot air-defense system, which received backlash from the air force. While the investigation into the crash is ongoing, US experts have joined in to determine the cause, which currently remains unclear.
The F-16 jets were recently delivered to Ukraine by European countries, providing an opportunity for the country to retaliate against Russia’s air superiority. However, military analysts suggest that these planes may not significantly impact the war due to Russia’s powerful air force and advanced air defense systems.
Overall, Zelenskyy’s decision to dismiss Oleshchuk reflects the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of military personnel, as Ukraine continues to navigate through the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
