Kiev, Aug 31 (IANS) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has dismissed the country’s Air Force chief Mykola Oleshchuk from his post. The President’s Office released an order on its official website.
“I have decided to remove the Air Force Commander under the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” President Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram, without giving a reason for removing the air force chief.
According to news agency Xinhua, Zelensky in his statement stressed that it is necessary for the country to increase the strength of the Air Force and protect its servicemen.
Subsequently, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that the commander of the Central Air Command, Lieutenant General Anatoly Krivonozhko, will temporarily hold the post of Air Force commander. This announcement was made by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after an F-16 fighter jet crashed, killing the pilot.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that the F-16 fighter jets involved in the battle had destroyed four missiles, and one aircraft lost contact while heading to the next target. “As it turned out later, the plane crashed and the pilot was killed,” it added in its statement.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement that pilot Oleksiy Mace died while facing a Russian attack on August 26. The Air Force did not mention whether Mace was an F-6 pilot.
–IANS
PSM/SKP
