President Zelenskyy of Ukraine has dismissed the commander of the country’s air force, Mykola Oleshchuk, following the crash of an F-16 warplane during a Russian bombardment that resulted in the pilot’s death. The President stated that the priority is to protect personnel and strengthen the army at the command level. Anatolii Kryvonozhko was appointed as the acting air force commander.
The dismissal of Oleshchuk came after he criticized a lawmaker for suggesting that the F-16 was downed by a Patriot air-defense system. Oleshchuk accused the lawmaker of defaming the air force and discrediting US arms manufacturers.
US experts have joined the Ukrainian investigation into the crash, although it does not appear to be the result of Russian fire. The F-16 jet crashed during a Russian missile and drone attack, and a detailed analysis is being conducted to determine the cause.
Despite the delivery of F-16 warplanes by European countries to Ukraine, military analysts believe that they will not change the course of the war against Russia due to their air force’s superiority and advanced defense systems. However, Ukrainian officials see the jets as an opportunity to strike back at Russia’s air dominance.
The dismissal of Oleshchuk underscores the gravity of the situation in Ukraine and the government’s efforts to protect its soldiers and strengthen its military capabilities in the face of Russian aggression.
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