Ukraine's Air Force Commander Fired Following Fatal Crash of US-made F-16 Fighter Jet

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the air force chief, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, in a move that comes after a high-profile setback for Kyiv. The dismissal is reportedly related to the crash of an F-16 fighter jet, which occurred while repelling a Russian air strike. The pilot, Oleksiy Mes, was killed in the incident. Zelensky stated that he had decided to replace the commander of the air forces, citing the need to strengthen the army on the command level. Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko has been appointed as the acting air force commander. The dismissal comes as Ukraine has received an unspecified number of US-made F-16 fighter jets, which it has been lobbying the West to send for months.