Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force Mykola Oleshchuk commented on the August 26 loss of a Ukrainian F-16 yesterday, essentially telling everyone to stop commenting about the possible causes of the crash, only to then be fired by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I have decided to replace the Commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on his website. “I am immensely grateful to all our military pilots, all engineers, all warriors of mobile firing groups, air defense units. All those who really fight for Ukraine—for the result. And the same goes for the command level—we must strengthen ourselves. And take care of people. Take care of personnel—take care of all our warriors.”
Lt. Gen. Anatolii Kryvonozhko was appointed acting air force commander, the army’s general staff said, reported AP.
The cause of the tragedy will be determined, and an investigation is currently underway with the involvement of the United States, Oleshchuk had announced in a Telegram post, reported the New Voice of Ukraine website. “No one is hiding anything!” said Oleshchuk. He criticized the statements made by MP Mariana Bezuhla, who accused the Air Force command of concealing information and claimed that the aircraft was allegedly shot down by Ukrainian air defense.
“Blaming the military for everything won’t work,” Oleshchuk wrote. “Therefore, I appeal to the MP, who has long sold her name to achieve these despicable goals. Mariana, the time will come when you will have to apologize to the entire military for what you have done, I hope in court!” He added that Bezuhla not only accused the Air Force but also discredited the manufacturers of American weapons, Ukraine’s main ally, the United States. Oleshchuk called Bezuhla a “newsmaker of enemy propaganda,” who is “applauded by all of Russia.”
“The truth will win,” Bezuhla posted on X shortly after the dismissal order was published, reported AP, which added that the air force did not directly deny that the F-16 was hit by a Patriot missile.