2024-08-30T20:36:00+03:00 War in Ukraine 2024-09-23T04:00:02+03:00

Ukrainian news

Zelenskyy dismisses Air Forces commander Mykola Oleshchuk

Zelenskyy dismisses Air Forces commander Mykola Oleshchuk

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk as the commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces Ukraine.

This is evidenced by the relevant decree published on the website of the Office of the President.

Фото: скріншот

"Release Oleshchuk Mykola Mykolaiovych from the position of the commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the text of the decree reads.

Later, Zelenskyy published a traditional evening video message in which he commented on the decision to release Oleshchuk.

"I decided to replace the commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I am infinitely grateful to all our military pilots, engineers, soldiers of mobile fire groups, air defense calculations. All those who really fight for Ukraine — for the result. And this is also necessary at the command level – we have to strengthen ourselves. And take care of our personnel. Take care of all our soldiers," said the president.

Mykola Oleshchuk is a Lieutenant General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He assumed the position of the commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on August 9, 2021.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on August 29 it became known that on August 26, the day of the massive missile attack on Ukraine, an F-16 fighter jet was lost. The pilot of the plane was killed.

Member of Parliament Mariana Bezuhla said that the plane crash was allegedly caused by "friendly fire" from the MIM-104 Patriot anti-aircraft missile complex.

Later, Lieutenant General Oleshchuk accused Bezuhla of playing along with russian propaganda. He also denied her claims that the F-16 was shot down by friendly fire.