Zelensky fires Ukraine Air Force Chief After F-16 Crash

President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Lt Gen Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of Ukraine’s air force, following the crash of a newly delivered F-16 fighter jet. This decision comes amidst ongoing discussions and controversy over the cause of the incident, which resulted in the death of the pilot.

While President Zelensky did not explicitly state the reasons behind Oleshchuk’s removal, he emphasized his duty to “care for all our warriors.” The F-16, one of several recently provided by Ukraine’s Western allies, crashed on Monday, with the pilot, Col Oleksiy Mes, losing his life. Although the crash occurred during a period of intensified Russian missile attacks, Ukrainian authorities have stated that the incident was not a direct result of enemy fire.

The loss of the F-16 has sparked heated debates among Ukrainian officials. Lt Gen Oleshchuk, who had been involved in disputes with politicians over the jet’s crash, was criticized by some for his handling of the situation. Ukrainian leaders are grappling with the impact of this incident amid the broader conflict with Russia, which began with a full-scale invasion in February 2022 and has seen significant territorial gains by Russian forces, particularly in eastern Ukraine.

In response to increased Russian aggression, Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s western Kursk region earlier this month, claiming further territorial advances. This escalation has led to intensified Russian attacks across Ukraine. On Friday, a tragic incident in Kharkiv, a northeastern city close to the Russian border, saw a 14-year-old girl killed by a Russian guided bomb targeting a playground. Additionally, a 12-storey residential building was struck, resulting in at least six fatalities and 59 injuries.

Amid these ongoing attacks, President Zelensky has reiterated his call for international partners to permit Ukraine to strike targets within Russia to mitigate such assaults. His office reported that over the past week, Moscow’s forces have launched more than 400 drones and missiles against Ukraine.

In a statement on Telegram, President Zelensky announced the decision to replace Lt Gen Oleshchuk, stressing the need to “strengthen ourselves at the command level and protect our people.” The Ukrainian air force has identified the deceased pilot as Col Oleksiy Mes, known by his call sign “Moonfish.” Col Mes, one of the most experienced pilots in Ukraine, had previously been trained abroad for F-16 missions and had successfully downed several enemy missiles and a drone in recent engagements.

Lt Gen Anatolii Kryvonozhko has been appointed as the interim commander of Ukraine’s air force. Kryvonozhko, who previously led the central air command, will oversee operations during this challenging period. His appointment comes as the debate over the F-16’s loss continues, with Ukrainian politician Mariana Bezuhla suggesting that the jet was brought down by Ukraine’s own Patriot air defense system. Lt Gen Oleshchuk responded by confirming that an investigation was ongoing and accused Bezuhla of undermining military leadership, suggesting that she would need to apologize once the findings were clear.

Since August 2023, NATO countries have pledged around 65 F-16s to Ukraine following US President Joe Biden’s authorization. President Zelensky has previously removed several military commanders in response to criticism and perceived incompetence. Notably, in February 2024, he dismissed the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and in June, Lt Gen Yuriy Sodol was also removed amid public discontent over military casualties and performance issues.