Zelenskyy appoints new Air Force commander to step up air defense
Photo: Anatolii Kryvonozhko, newly appointed Commander of the Air Force (facebook.com/PvkCenter)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko as Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He had been serving as acting Commander for nearly a year after Mykola Oleshchuk was dismissed.
According to Zelenskyy, he decided to appoint Kryvonozhko as Commander today.
"What matters most is that Ukrainian combat aviation and air defense continue to develop in a comprehensive and effectively coordinated manner – through the joint efforts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the General Staff, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, our partner teams, and dedicated, professional experts who want Ukraine to be strong and victorious," Zelenskyy said.
Who is Anatolii Kryvonozhko
Since 2015, Kryvonozhko has headed the Air Command Center. After Russia's full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy awarded him the Order of the Golden Star and the title of Hero of Ukraine.
Starting August 30, 2024, Kryvonozhko served as acting Commander of the Air Force. He was appointed to this role by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi after Zelenskyy dismissed Mykola Oleshchuk from the post.
Zelenskyy explained Oleshchuk's dismissal as a necessary step to strengthen the Air Force and "protect people, personnel, and all soldiers." The decision came after a tragic F-16 fighter jet crash.
