Zelenskyy Dismisses Air Force Commander Following Tragic F-16 Crash

In a dramatic turn of events, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, the head of the country's air force, just days after a fatal crash involving an F-16 fighter jet. The incident, which took place on Monday, resulted in the death of Colonel Oleksiy Mes, a highly skilled pilot known by his call sign "Moonfish."

The crash occurred during a Russian missile attack, marking a significant loss for Ukraine. Colonel Mes was one of the mere six Ukrainian air force pilots qualified to fly an F-16, a fleet that began arriving in Ukraine in early August. Mes was also an ardent advocate for the U.S. to supply Ukraine with these advanced fighter jets, even lobbying for the cause in Washington, D.C., in 2022 alongside his comrade, "Juice," who tragically died in a training exercise almost a year prior.

President Zelenskyy addressed the nation following the dismissal of Lt. Gen. Oleshchuk, emphasizing the need to protect military personnel and strengthen the command structure. “We need to protect people. Protect personnel. Take care of all our soldiers,” Zelenskyy stated, according to an Associated Press translation.

This incident has raised numerous questions about the cause of the crash and the future of Ukraine’s air force capabilities. U.S. experts are already on the ground assisting in the investigation to determine what went wrong. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Defense Minister is in Washington to discuss with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin the possibility of using American and British missiles for deeper strikes inside Russia, highlighting the ongoing strategic challenges faced by Ukraine.

For more detailed information and to stay updated on this developing story, watch the full video [here](https://www.scrippsnews.com/world/ukrainian-f-16-pilot-killed-during-russian-missile-attack).

Photo: Efrem Lukatsky/AP

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