Zelensky Dismisses Ukrainian Air Force Commander Over F-16 Jet Crash

President Zelensky dismissed Ukraine's Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk on Aug. 30 over the crash of the F-16 fighter jet which has caused considerable embarrassment to Washington.

The decision was announced on the Presidential Office’s website a day after the crash.

Oleshchuk has served in the position since Aug. 9, 2021. Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko, commander of the "Center" Air Command, was appointed as Ukraine's acting Air Force commander.

Oleshchuk's removal came a day after the Ukrainian military confirmed that an F-16 fighter jet, recently delivered to the country and flown by Ukraine's top pilot, Oleksii Mes, call sign "Moonfish," had crashed while defending against a mass Russian drone and missile attack on Aug. 26. Mes was killed in the crash.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry has established a special commission to investigate the cause of the crash. Oleshchuk mentioned that Ukraine had received a preliminary report from the U.S., which is now part of the investigation.

An unnamed U.S. defense official told Reuters that the crash "did not appear to be the result of Russian fire" and said that other causes, including "pilot error" and "mechanical failure," were being investigated.

Russia has not made any official comment on the downing of F-16 so far.