Three days after Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with hundreds of missiles and “kamikaze” drones, the Wall Street Journal revealed that the Ukrainian Air Force lost one of the six F-16 fighter-bombers it had received earlier this month during this sequence. The Wall Street Journal noted that a pilot error or technical incident likely caused the loss of this aircraft.
Following this, CNN reported the death of the iconic and highly experienced Lieutenant Colonel Oleksii “Moonfish” Mes, who was at the controls of this F-16. A Ukrainian source informed the American media that they are investigating the accident and inviting international experts to participate.
These revelations forced Kyiv to break its silence. In a statement released via Facebook, the western command of the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed Lieutenant Colonel Mes’s death without mentioning the loss of an F-16. “On August 26, while repelling a Russian air attack, Oleksii destroyed three cruise missiles and an attack drone,” it stated, suggesting he was piloting a MiG-29 “Fulcrum” at the time.
It was only later that the Ukrainian General Staff explicitly acknowledged the loss of an F-16 via Telegram. They probably wanted to keep this information under wraps to avoid fueling Russian propaganda. “A special commission has been appointed to determine the causes of the accident,” it specified, implying that enemy fire was ruled out as a reason for the aircraft’s crash.
However, Mariana Bezuhla, the Deputy Chairwoman of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, claimed shortly after that the F-16 had suffered “friendly fire” after a Patriot air defense system struck it. Incidentally, last November, the parliamentarian had already harshly criticized General Valeri Zaluzhny, then Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian forces. Since then, they have relieved him of his command and appointed him as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems typically prevent friendly fire incidents by using target identification procedures (positive ID) from, if possible, two different sources.
In any case, Mrs. Bezuhla’s statement infuriated General Mykola Oleschchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Air Force.
“No one is hiding anything. The investigation is already underway. Bezuhla’s statements are being used to discredit the highest military leaders. She sold out long ago to achieve vile objectives,” General Oleschchuk fumed.
“Of course we are determining the causes of the ‘crash’. No one hid or is hiding anything! All the responsible parties immediately received a report on the ‘crash’. Our U.S. partners, who are already involved in investigating the causes, also received a preliminary report,” he continued, emphasizing that information “about such incidents could not be immediately made public and detailed for the media, as a war is ongoing.”
“Maryana, the time will come when you will ask for forgiveness in front of the entire army for what you have done, I hope in court,” General Oleschchuk concluded.
“Cedant arma togae” [let arms yield to the toga]. Is this the principle behind the decision just taken by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky? In any case, he announced the immediate dismissal of General Oleschchuk.
“I have decided to replace the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Mr. Zelensky declared via Telegram. “I am infinitely grateful to all our pilots, technicians, soldiers of the mobile firing groups, and air defense crews. To all those who are truly fighting for Ukraine, for the outcome. And we must also strengthen the level of command […] and protect the personnel, protect all our troops,” he added.
A two-line presidential decree [No. 600/2024] was then published to confirm this measure. General Anatoliy Kryvonozhko has been appointed to replace General Oleschchuk, who, until now, had been one of the few Ukrainian generals to keep his post since the start of the war.
Moreover, in June, President Zelensky announced the creation of a new branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, dedicated solely to drones. Its chief has just been appointed; it is said to be Admiral Roman Gladky. However, according to Mrs. Bezuhla, not only does he have no experience in this field, but this officer from Crimea is also suspected of having ties to Moscow due to his wife (who has a Russian passport) and his daughter, who participated in swimming competitions on behalf of Russia. “It is unclear how he passed the Ukrainian Security Service’s clearance,” the deputy sneered.
