Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a information convention in Kyiv on Friday (August 30, 2024) | Photograph Credit score: ANI
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday (Aug 30, 2024) dismissed the pinnacle of the nation’s air power, a day after kyiv stated a US-made F-16 fighter jet had crashed in fight, killing the pilot.
In a video message, Zelensky stated he had “determined to exchange the air power commander” in an effort to strengthen Ukraine’s army management.
His workplace earlier issued a presidential decree to formally take away Mykola Oleshchuk from workplace.
The F-16 crash was a high-profile setback for kyiv, which had for months lobbied the West to ship the superior fighter jet.
It was the primary reported loss, simply weeks after Ukraine started receiving the supersonic plane.
The army had stated the airplane and pilot crashed throughout a fight mission earlier this week after taking pictures down incoming Russian missiles.
MP Mariana Bezugla, who sits on a parliamentary committee on defence, safety and intelligence, stated the F-16 was shot down by Ukraine’s personal air defence programs in a case of pleasant hearth.
Responding to these allegations, Mr. Oleshchuk on Friday, August 30, 2024, accused her of attempting to discredit Ukraine’s army leaders and stated a full investigation into the incident was underway.
Zelensky didn’t elaborate on why he determined to exchange his air power commander, saying solely that his command staff “wanted to be strengthened.”
“Lieutenant Normal Anatolii Kryvonozhko, who heads air power operations in central Ukraine, will quickly assume the position of normal commander,” the air power stated.
This isn’t the primary time that Zelensky has dismissed a senior army official.
Earlier this 12 months, he dismissed the favored commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny.
He was changed by Oleksandr Syrsky, who was the mastermind behind Ukraine’s shock counterattack in Russia’s western Kursk area.
