Zelensky removes air defense chief after the F-16 crash
Source: Volodymyr Zelensky
On Friday, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky announced the dismissal of Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk from his role as Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force. This decision follows Oleschuk’s public criticism of MP Maryana Bezuhla, who had accused the Air Force of covering up an F-16 crash.
In his Friday address on social media , Zelensky dryly mentioned the decision in the military leadership, adding he is ‘thankful to all the [Ukrainian] military pilots, engineers, mobile groups and air defense units’.
The shake-up was allegedly prompted by a war of words between the lawmaker known for her scathing judgments on and Ukrainian air defenses chief who called Bezuhla out over her claims the F-16 crash was a result of a Patriot system friendly fire. Oleschuk argued the Servant of the People lawmaker was ‘discrediting the top military leadership’ and was ‘receiving applause’ from Russia.
Temporarily taking over the position is Anatoliy Kryvonozhko (the photo below), who previously led the “Center” Air Command. The full implications of this leadership change remain to be seen.
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