President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky The country’s air force chief was fired today (Friday) after an F-16 fighter jet crashed while defending against a massive Russian missile attack earlier this week.
The crash, which resulted in the loss of the plane along with one of Ukraine’s best-known pilots, occurred on Monday, just weeks after the F-16s began arriving in Ukraine. The exact circumstances of the crash are unclear. US officials said initial reports indicated the plane had not been shot down. An investigation is underway to determine the cause, according to the Ukrainian military.
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The event is a blow to Kiev, which pressed for months to receive the planes, and eventually overcame the hesitation of the Biden administration. the pilot, Oleksiy nohas been at the forefront of efforts to persuade the US to hand over the planes since the early days of the Russian invasion more than two years ago.
“I decided to replace the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Zelensky said in his speech this evening, without giving a reason. “We have to get stronger. And take care of the people. Take care of the manpower, take care of our fighters.”
Lieutenant General Anatoly Krivonozhko will temporarily replace Lt. Gen. Mykola Olschuk as commander of the Air Force.
Earlier on Friday, Olschuk criticized the deputy head of the defense committee in the Ukrainian parliament for her claims that the F-16 was shot down by a Patriot air defense system. Member of Parliament Mariana Bazohla cited unnamed sources for the accusation, and demanded punishment for those responsible.
Olszczuk accused Bezohla of becoming “the chief newsmaker for the enemy’s propaganda” in a statement on social media. “I assure you that a detailed analysis is already underway, an investigation is underway,” he said in a statement on Friday. “We must carefully understand what happened, what the circumstances are, and who is responsible.” Kiev hopes that the advanced aircraft from the West will add another layer to its air defense and protect the troops on the front lines. Mas intercepted three missiles and one UAV during Monday’s barrage before the Air Force lost contact with its aircraft.
The first of the promised 80 fighter jets began arriving in Ukraine earlier this summer. The Ukrainian Air Force did not provide numbers, but a US official said six planes had been delivered. Ukraine’s best pilots were selected to undergo training in NATO countries so they could fly the F-16s, a significant upgrade from the Soviet-era MiG-29s. For many Ukrainians, obtaining the planes and deploying them became a symbol of the road to victory against Russia.
But the F-16s, many of which are used and already have decades of service, are vulnerable to Russian air defense missiles and are a high-value target for Moscow’s forces. An increased risk is Russia’s ability to attack across Ukraine, while Ukrainian armed forces are limited to attacking airfields in enemy territory.
Monday’s barrage included about 200 missiles and UAVs, which Ukrainian officials said made it the largest of the war.