Zelenskyy appoints Anatolii Kryvonozhko as Ukraine Air Force commander

ISTANBUL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday formally appointed Lt. Gen. Anatolii Kryvonozhko as commander of the country’s Air Force, nearly a year after he assumed the role in an acting capacity.

“Today, I appointed Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko as Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on X following a meeting with senior military and defense officials.

“What matters most is that Ukrainian combat aviation and air defense continue to develop in a comprehensive and effectively coordinated manner,” he added.

Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of cooperation across Ukraine’s Armed Forces, General Staff, and Defense Ministry, along with support from international partners and “dedicated, professional experts who want Ukraine to be strong and victorious.”

A decree confirming Kryvonozhko’s appointment was later published on the website of the Ukrainian Presidential Office.

Kryvonozhko had been serving as acting Air Force commander since August last year, following the dismissal of Mykola Oleshchuk, who had held the post since 2021.

At the time of Oleshchuk’s removal, Zelenskyy said in a video address: “We must strengthen ourselves. And take care of people. Take care of personnel – take care of all our warriors.”

Oleshchuk was dismissed one day after Kyiv announced that one of its newly delivered F-16 fighter jets crashed while intercepting a Russian missile attack, killing the pilot.

ISTANBUL

“What matters most is that Ukrainian combat aviation and air defense continue to develop in a comprehensive and effectively coordinated manner,” he added.

A decree confirming Kryvonozhko’s appointment was later published on the website of the Ukrainian Presidential Office.

Kryvonozhko had been serving as acting Air Force commander since August last year, following the dismissal of Mykola Oleshchuk, who had held the post since 2021.

At the time of Oleshchuk’s removal, Zelenskyy said in a video address: “We must strengthen ourselves. And take care of people. Take care of personnel – take care of all our warriors.”

Oleshchuk was dismissed one day after Kyiv announced that one of its newly delivered F-16 fighter jets crashed while intercepting a Russian missile attack, killing the pilot.