On Aviation Day, 31 August, and the day after his dismissal, Mykola Oleshchuk made a post describing the achievements of the Air Force during his command.
He reminded that in August 2021, he had the honour to lead a large team - the second largest branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - the Air Force.
"These three years were difficult. Three years of war for Ukraine. Every day and every night I had to make difficult decisions that directly affected the lives of many people, the control of airspace, and the situation at the front," Oleshchuk wrote.
He noted that at the beginning of the Russian invasion it was the hardest. But there was a clear plan of action in case of a massive missile strike on the Air Force facilities. It was necessary to save equipment and people, withdraw from the attack and move as many assets as possible to reserve positions and airfields, and give a decisive rebuff to the aggressor.
In just two months, the Air Force cleared the skies of Russian aircraft in the territory under its control and established an air defence system that also includes air defence units of all the Defence Forces.
"Our pilots carried out heroic combat missions at the beginning of the 22nd. Even then, our aviation was striking at Russian territory without any red lines. Yes, it was a time of difficult, fateful decisions, and we fought. We had hundreds of enemy planes and helicopters, thousands of reconnaissance UAVs, thousands of missiles and attack drones," the general said.
Oleshchuk noted that over the two and a half years of the war, many significant events have taken place that have gone down in world history.
In the autumn and winter of 2022, the Air Force prevented Russia from plunging Ukraine into darkness and protected the energy sector. The blackout, as Russians wanted, did not happen.
In May 2023, the Air Force shot down the first Kinzhal missile over Kyiv, followed by dozens of ballistic missiles.
Thanks to the titanic work, the first F-16s appeared in the Ukrainian skies, and dozens of pilots are now being trained abroad.
Several dozen successful operations were also carried out to destroy Russian aircraft, including the downing of five aircraft in the Bryansk Region, two A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft, an Il-22, a Tu-22M3, and others.
The pilots downed many Russian vessels, destroyed the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, and carried out hundreds of strikes on Russian targets behind Russian lines.
Oleshchuk particularly noted the work of the pilots in the Kursk direction and in the east. With precision missile and bomb strikes, they destroyed control points, ammunition depots, strongholds, Russian logistics, bridges and pontoon crossings.
"By the way, today is the Day of Aviation of Ukraine! I congratulate everyone who flies, everyone who provides flights, everyone who loves the sky. I express my respect and condolences to the families and friends who let their son, father, husband go into eternal flight. Eternal memory to the fallen heroes... I thank all the personnel of the Air Force for their trust and support, for their understanding, for standing by my side, for their protection, courage, heroism and patriotism. Victory on earth is forged in the sky! I am honoured!" the lieutenant general wrote.
- On 26 August, Ukrainian Armed Forces pilot Oleksiy Mes was killed. He destroyed three cruise missiles and one attack UAV while repelling a Russian massive combined missile and air strike.
- Later, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that F-16 fighter jets were used to repel the missile attack on Monday, one of which crashed.
- A special commission of the Ministry of Defence has been appointed to investigate the causes of the crash and is working in the area where the plane went down. A preliminary report has already been received by our American partners, who have also joined the investigation.
- Subsequently, on 30 August, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk.
- Lieutenant General Anatoliy Kryvonozhko will temporarily act in Oleshchuk's place. He is currently the commander of the Centre Air Command.