International Courant
President Zelenskyy fires Mykola Oleshchuk, says nation should ‘shield personnel’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired the commander of the nation’s air pressure, 4 days after an F-16 fighter jet given to Ukraine by Western companions crashed throughout a Russian bombing raid, killing its pilot.
The dismissal order for Mykola Oleshchuk was revealed on the presidential web site on Friday.
“We have to shield individuals. Shield personnel. Care for all our troopers,” Zelenskyy mentioned in a speech minutes after the order was revealed. He mentioned Ukraine must strengthen its navy on the command stage.
Anatolii Kryvonozhko has been appointed appearing commander of the air pressure, the military’s Basic Employees mentioned.
The resignation got here on the identical day that Oleshchuk delivered a scathing criticism of a lawmaker who’s deputy head of the Ukrainian parliament’s protection committee over her claims that the F-16 was shot down by a Patriot air protection system. Ukraine has acquired an undisclosed variety of the U.S.-made programs.
Mariana Bezuhla cited nameless sources for her declare and demanded punishment for these chargeable for the error.
Oleshchuk accused Bezuhla of slandering the air pressure and discrediting American arms producers, saying he hoped her claims would have authorized penalties.
“The reality will prevail,” Bezuhla posted on X shortly after the dismissal order was revealed.
The Air Pressure didn’t explicitly deny that the F-16 was hit by a Patriot missile.
In keeping with the Air Pressure, American consultants have joined the Ukrainian investigation into the crash.
A U.S. protection official instructed Reuters information company that the crash didn’t look like the results of Russian fireplace and that doable causes, akin to pilot error or mechanical failure, had been nonetheless being investigated.
F-16s are one of many weapons that can be utilized to assault Russian bases behind the entrance line.
Oleshchuk mentioned on Telegram {that a} “detailed evaluation” had already been carried out into why the F-16 fighter jet crashed on Monday, as Russia launched a serious missile and drone offensive into Ukraine.
“We have to rigorously perceive what occurred, what the circumstances are and whose duty it’s,” Oleshchuk wrote within the message shortly earlier than his resignation.
The crash was the primary reported lack of an F-16 in Ukraine, the place the fighter jets arrived late final month. A minimum of six are believed to have been equipped by European nations.
Army analysts have mentioned the planes won’t be a game-changer within the warfare, given Russia’s huge air pressure and superior air protection programs. However Ukrainian officers welcomed the supersonic fighter jets, which may carry trendy weapons utilized by NATO nations, as an opportunity to strike again at Russia’s air superiority.
Zelenskyy fires Ukrainian air pressure commander after lethal F-16 crash | Russia-Ukraine warfare information
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