Ukrainian President Selenskyj dismisses Air Force commander after F-16 tragedy

Kyiv [Ukraine]August 31 (ANI): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday dismissed Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk, just a day after the tragic incident in which a US-supplied F-16 fighter jet crashed and killed Ukraine's top pilots, CNN reported.

Zelensky said the Air Force's command level needed to be “strengthened,” but did not say whether his decision to fire Oleshchuk was related to Monday's F-16 crash.

“I am infinitely grateful to all our military pilots, engineers, soldiers of mobile fire groups and air defense units. To all those who are really fighting for Ukraine. And this is also necessary at the command level: we must strengthen and protect the people. Protect the personnel. Take care of all our soldiers,” the Ukrainian president said in his evening address on Friday, according to CNN.

Zelensky further said that Lieutenant General Anatoly Kryvonoshka will serve as deputy commander of the Air Force.

Meanwhile, Zelensky shared a video on his X-handle in which he spoke about the recent Russian attack in Kharkiv and stated that rescue operations were underway.

“Rescue operations in Kharkiv at sites hit by Russian bombs are ongoing. Tragically, there are fatalities, including a child – a girl named Sofia, who would have turned 15 in the fall. My deepest condolences go out to her family and loved ones. Many more are injured. Assistance is being provided to all those affected and rescue workers are doing everything they can to save as many lives as possible. I am grateful to everyone involved in the rescue efforts and to everyone supporting Kharkiv and its residents,” the post said.

The post continued: “These horrific, cowardly Russian attacks targeted ordinary homes and a city park. Russia will be held accountable for all its evil deeds. But the world must remember that the most effective tactic is to prevent evil in the first place. We need decisions – decisions that our partners can make, decisions by those countries that have the power to ensure that we are able to destroy Russian military aircraft at their bases, where the elimination of these terrorists and their aircraft will be most effective.” Zelensky escalated his criticism of Russia, condemning Vladimir Putin's reliance on terror as a primary weapon of war, stressing that Putin's strategy is built on intimidating civilians, and stressing the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense systems.

“In Ukraine, we, together with our friends around the world, are talking not just about long-term solutions, but about strong solutions that can end this war. For Putin, the main tool of his wars is terror against civilians – intimidation and cruelty towards people. This is the same evil that Russia has unleashed in Syria, in Georgia and now in Ukraine. Their terror tactics are the same everywhere and it is time to put an end to them. This can be achieved through our Ukrainian long-range capabilities, robust support to our defence forces and improved air defence systems for Ukraine,” the post said. (ANI)