Among the achievements, Nikolai Oleshchuk named saving the country from a blackout, the destruction of the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, the liquidation of valuable aircraft, and others.
Nikolai Osh On Aviation Day, August 31, and also the day after his dismissal, Nikolai Oleshchuk made a statement in which he spoke about the achievements of the Air Force during his command.
He recalled that in August 2021 he had the honor of heading a large team – the second largest branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – the Air Force.
“It's been a difficult three years. Three years of war for Ukraine. Every day and every night I had to make difficult decisions that directly affect the lives of many people, control of airspace, the situation at the front,” Oleshchuk wrote.
He noted that the beginning of the Russian invasion was the hardest. But there was a clear plan of action in the event of a massive missile attack on Air Force facilities. It was necessary to save equipment and people, remove as many assets as possible from the attack and move them to reserve positions and airfields, and decisively repel the aggressor.
In just two months, the Air Force cleared the skies of enemy aircraft in the territory under its control, and established an air defense system, in which air defense units of all Defense Forces also operate.
Oleshchuk addressed Bezuglya: “The time will come, apologize to the entire army. I hope in court”
“Our pilots carried out heroic combat sorties at the beginning of 2022. Even then, our aviation was striking Russian territory without red lines. Yes, it was a time of difficult, fateful decisions, and we gave battle. We have hundreds of enemy aircraft and helicopters, thousands of reconnaissance UAVs, thousands of missiles and attack drones,” the general said.
Oleshchuk noted that during the two and a half years of war, many significant events took place b that went down in world history.
In the fall and winter of 2022 The Air Force prevented Russia from plunging Ukraine into darkness and protected the energy sector. The blackout that the occupier wanted did not happen.
In May 2023, the Air Force shot down the first “Dagger” over Kiev, and then dozens of ballistic missiles.
Thanks to titanic work, the first F-16s appeared in the Ukrainian sky, and dozens of pilots are now undergoing training abroad.
Several dozen successful operations to destroy Russian aviation were also carried out, in particular, this is the shooting down of five aircraft at once in the Bryansk direction, two A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft, an Il-22, a Tu-22M3 and others.
The pilots sent many enemy watercraft to the bottom, destroyed the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, and carried out hundreds of strikes on hostile targets behind enemy lines.
Oleshchuk particularly noted the work of the pilots in the Kursk direction and the East. With high-precision missile and bomb strikes, they destroy command posts, ammunition depots, strongholds, enemy logistics, bridges and pontoon crossings. The death of the F-16 pilot did not cause Oleshchuk's dismissal, – Umerov
“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 sent their son, father, husband on an eternal flight. Eternal memory to the fallen Heroes… I thank the entire personnel of the Air Force for their trust and support, for their understanding, for standing by, for their protection, courage, heroism and patriotism. Victory on the ground is forged in the sky! I have the honor!” the lieutenant general wrote.
- On August 26, Ukrainian Armed Forces pilot Oleksiy Mes died. 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 fighters were used along with anti-aircraft missile units to repel the missile strike on Monday, one of which crashed.
- A special commission of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has been appointed to determine the causes of the accident, which is working in the area where the plane crashed. The preliminary report has already been received by American partners, who have also joined in establishing the causes of the disaster.
- Later, on August 30, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk.
- Lieutenant General Anatoly Krivonozhko will temporarily act as the acting commander instead of Oleshchuk. For now, he is the commander of the Center Air Command.