Zelenskyy dismisses Air Force Commander Oleshchuk

Mykola Oleshchuk. Photo: Ukraine’s Air Force

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy removed Mykola Oleshchuk from his position of commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Source: decree on the President’s website

Details: As per usual, the decree does not specify the reasons for the dismissal.

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At the same time, Zelenskyy posted an evening address in which he said that he had decided to replace the head of Ukraine’s Air Force.

Quote: “I have decided to replace the Commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I am immensely grateful to all our military pilots, all engineers, all warriors of mobile firing groups, and air defence units. All those who really fight for Ukraine – for the result. And the same goes for the command level – we must strengthen ourselves. And take care of [our] people. Take care of [our] personnel – take care of all our warriors.”

Background: 

• On 29 August, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that an F-16 fighter jet crashed while repelling a Russian missile strike. The pilot didn’t survive.
• Ukrainian pilot Oleksii Mes was killed while repelling a massive Russian combined missile and drone attack on 26 August.

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