President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed Ukraine's Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk on Friday, as reported in a presidential decree. This decision followed closely on the heels of a tragic incident where an F-16 jet crashed during a mission to repel a significant Russian strike, resulting in the death of the pilot. 

In his evening address, President Zelenskiy expressed his gratitude to the country's military pilots but did not provide a specific reason for Oleshchuk's dismissal. He did, however, emphasize the importance of protecting personnel and the need to strengthen command structures. General Lieutenant Anatoliy Kryvonozhka has been appointed to temporarily take over the duties of Air Force Commander.

The Ukrainian military has not disclosed the cause of the F-16 crash, but it occurred as the jet was approaching a Russian target. Oleshchuk mentioned that U.S. partners were assisting in the investigation. A U.S. defense official indicated that the crash did not appear to result from Russian fire, with potential causes ranging from pilot error to mechanical failure still under review. The deployment of the first F-16 jets has been a significant milestone for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia, which began over two and a half years ago.