Ukraine celebrates Air Force Day: Zelensky appointed new commander
Anatoliy Kryvonozhko has been officially appointed commander of the Air Force of the AFU.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved the appointment of Lieutenant-General Anatoliy Kryvonozhko as commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He had been acting as the head for almost a year after Mykola Oleshchuk was dismissed.
The decision on the appointment was made on 1 August. Zelensky stressed that the task of the new commander is to ensure the integrated development of combat aviation and air defence forces, to establish effective interaction between the AFU, the General Staff, the Ministry of Defence, partner states and the expert community, which seeks to strengthen the defence capability of Ukraine.
Career and merits
Anatoly Kryvonozhko has been the head of Air Command Centre since 2015. After the beginning of a full-scale war, he proved himself in this position, for which he was awarded the Order of the Golden Star and received the title of Hero of Ukraine.
Since 30 August 2024, he has been temporarily acting as commander of the Air Force. The appointment was made by Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky after the resignation of Mykola Oleshchuk.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained the dismissal of the previous commander by the need to strengthen the Air Force's capabilities and concern for the life and safety of the personnel.