President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired the commander of Ukraine’s air force, Lt General Mykola Oleshchuk, over the debate over the destruction of a key new F-16 fighter jet.
Mr Zelensky did not give a reason for the dismissal, but in a post on Telegram he said it was his responsibility to “take care of all our heroes”.
On Monday, one of the US-made F-16 fighter jets delivered earlier this month by the West to Ukraine went down under a barrage of Russian missiles, killing the pilot.
The cause of the accident was not a direct result of an enemy strike, Ukraine said, and Lt General Oleshchuk had an argument with some politicians about who had lost him.
In his letter to Telegram, Mr Zelensky said he had decided to close Lt Gen Oleschuk, noting that “at the command level, we must strengthen ourselves and protect our people”.
“I am very grateful to all our military pilots, all the engineers, all the heroes of the fire brigade, and all the air defense,” said Mr. Zelensky.
“To everyone who is really fighting for Ukraine, with results. And this is necessary at the command level, we must strengthen ourselves and protect our people. Protect the workers, protect all our heroes.”
The Ukrainian Air Force previously identified the dead pilot as Col Oleksiy Mes.
“He fought his last battle in the sky,” it said, adding that he shot down three cruise missiles and a drone on August 26.
Mes, whose call sign was Moonfish, was one of Ukraine’s most experienced pilots. He has been trained abroad in F-16 missions.
Lt General Anatolii Kryvonozhko has been appointed interim commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, military officials said in a statement. Previously, this officer was in charge of the central air command, leading operations in the center of the country.
He takes office as officials clash over the loss of the F-16 fighter jet, which has sparked a heated debate in Ukraine.
Ukrainian politician, Mariana Bezuhla, who is on the defense committee of the Parliament, said on Thursday that the plane was shot down by the Ukrainian Patriot defense system.
Mr. Oleshchuk responded earlier on Friday and said that the investigation is ongoing and that no one is hiding anything. He accused Ms. Bezuhla of tarnishing the reputation of the military leadership and said that the time will come for her to apologize.
After the announcement of her dismissal Ms. Bezuhla posted on social media that the truth will come out.
About 65 F-16s have been sworn in by NATO countries since US President Joe Biden approved the European allies’ willingness to send them to Ukraine in August 2023.
Mr Zelensky has sacked several military chiefs since Russia launched its full-scale offensive in February 2022.
In February this year, he dismissed the general of the army, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
And in June, dismissed Lt Gen Yuriy Sodol after public criticism about the general’s excessive injuries and alleged incompetence.
Lt General Oleshchuk arrived as Ukraine continued its offensive in the western Kursk region, which began surprise attack on 6 August.
The commander of the Ukrainian army, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, said on Friday that his troops had advanced another 2 kilometers into Kursk the previous day.
And on Friday, the Ukrainian delegation met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington.
The head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov discussed the situation on the battlefield, the need for weapons and equipment, and the latest attack on the energy system, the office said.
Ukrainians say the country needs to strengthen its air defenses to protect people and critical infrastructure.
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