Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the country's air force commander, Mykola Oleshchuk. The dismissal was announced Friday in a presidential decree.
There was no immediate explanation from Zelenskyy for his decision, but the decision comes days after a Ukrainian pilot was killed when his F-16 jet was shot down on Monday. Lieutenant Colonel Oleksiy Mes was killed while defending Ukraine's skies in a western-donated fighter jet.
Ukrainian MP Mariana Bezuhla has claimed the plane was shot down by the country's anti-aircraft missile system. In response to Ms Bezuhla before his dismissal, Lt Gen Oleshchuk said her comments were a "tool to discredit the top military leadership".
Marianne, the time will come when you will apologize to the entire military for what you have done, I hope in court!"