Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief appoints acting Commander of Air Forces
Photo: Anatolii Kryvonozhko (facebook.com/PvkCenter)
Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, has appointed Anatolii Kryvonozhko as the acting Commander of the Air Forces. This decision was made following the dismissal of Mykola Oleshchuk, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to the General Staff, by the order of Syrskyi, Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko, Commander of the Air Command Center, has been "authorized to temporarily fulfill the duties of the Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force."
About Kryvonozhko
Kryvonozhko served as the commander of the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade from 2006 to 2008.
In 2015, he was appointed Commander of the Air Command Center.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Kryvonozhko the Order of the Gold Star and awarded him the title of Hero of Ukraine. The reason for this was that more than 1,160 missiles and drones, more than 100 ground targets and one surface target were destroyed in the area of responsibility of the Center Air Command.
Oleshchuk's dismissal
Today, August 30, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree dismissing Mykola Oleshchuk from his position as Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force. The President explained the decision as the need to "strengthen ourselves and protect people".
The dismissal followed news of an F-16 fighter jet, provided by allies, crashing in Ukraine during a massive Russian strike on August 26.
The aircraft was piloted by skilled Ukrainian pilot Oleksii Munfish Misk. He had downed several enemy missiles and drones before losing communication during an approach to a target.
The cause of the crash is still unknown and is currently under investigation.
