The results of the investigation into the F-16 crash will be made public soon. The pilot who died in the crash shot down two missiles and he "attacked, pursuing the third cruise missile and using onboard weapons," said the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyy, in an interview with CNN.
He reminded that the Ukrainian pilots were trained in the educational institutions of partner countries and the best pilots were selected for the mission, who already had experience in the effective use of aircraft in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"I think everyone will soon know the results of the investigation. On the one hand, we are not going to hide it, but on the other hand, the effectiveness of these aircraft has been proven by the results - the destruction of four cruise missiles by a pair of F-16s. This will certainly strengthen our defence capabilities, especially in the fight against enemy cruise missiles," Syrskyy said.
When asked if it could have been friendly fire, he said: "You know, I cannot comment on something where there is no result yet."
- 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, one of which crashed.
- A special commission of the Ministry of Defence has been appointed to investigate the cause of the crash. A preliminary report has already been received by our American partners, who have also joined the investigation. At the same time, Pentagon spokesman General Patrick Ryder noted that the US Department of Defence does not comment on the details of the F-16 incident in Ukraine.
- MP Mariana Bezuhla posted on social media that the crash was allegedly caused by "friendly fire" from Ukrainian air defence systems. In response, the then commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk, was outraged by her post and said that "the time will come when you will apologise to the entire army for what you have done, hopefully in court".
- Subsequently, on 30 August, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Oleshchuk from his post.
- Afterwards, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov denied that Oleshchuk's dismissal was related to death of Oleksiy Mes.