Zelensky Dismisses Air Force Commander After Fatal F-16 Crash, Possible Friendly Fire

Aug 30, 2024, 05:55 PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, following the crash of a Western-donated F-16 fighter jet four days earlier. The incident, which occurred during a Russian missile barrage on Monday, resulted in the death of a top Ukrainian pilot, Oleksiy Mes, known as 'Moonfish'. The decision to remove Oleshchuk was formalized through a presidential decree. Reports suggest that the crash may have involved friendly fire, with some sources alleging that the F-16 was downed by a NATO-supplied Patriot missile system. This marks the first loss of an F-16 aircraft for Ukraine.