President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the commander of Ukraine’s air force, Lt Gen Mykola Oleshchuk, following the controversial loss of a newly acquired F-16 fighter jet.Zelensky did not detail the reasons for the dismissal but emphasized his duty to safeguard all Ukrainian military personnel.
The incident involved an F-16, part of a recent delivery from Western allies, which crashed during a Russian missile attack, resulting in the pilot’s death.
Although the crash occurred amidst enemy action, Ukrainian officials clarified that it was not directly caused by Russian missiles.
This event sparked a public debate, with Lt Gen Oleshchuk engaging in disputes with political figures over accountability for the aircraft’s loss.