KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired the commander of the country’s air force Friday, four days following an F-16 plane that Ukraine received from its West crashed during a Russian bombardment and killed the pilot. The order to terminate Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk has been published on the presidential website.
“We need to secure people. Protect security personnel. Take care of all our troops,” Zelensky stated in an address minutes following the order was issued. He was of the view that Kyiv needs to strengthen its military on the command level. He was appointed acting commander of Ukraine’s air force, the army’s general staff stated.
The development came on the same day that Oleshchuk has directed scathing criticism at an MP who is deputy head of the Ukrainian parliament’s defense committee for her statement that the F-16 was downed by a Patriot air-defense system. Kyiv has received an unspecified number of the US-made systems.
Mariana Bezuhla quoted sources for her claim as well as demanded penalty for those responsible for the fault. Oleshchuk alleged Bezuhla of defaming the air force and discrediting American arms manufacturers and hoped that the MP would face legal actions for her claims. “The truth will win,” Bezuhla posted on social media shortly following the dismissal order was issued.
However, the air force did not directly reject that the F-16 fighter was hit by a Patriot missile. American experts have joined the Ukrainian probe into the crash, the air force stated.
Meanwhile, a Russian strike on the northeastern city of Kharkiv using powerful plane-launched glide bombs killed around six people, and injured 47 others, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov stated. One of the bombs hit an apartment block, setting the compound ablaze and trapping at least one person on an upper floor. Emergency officials searching for survivors expressed fear the structure could collapse.
