Ukrainian jet crashes during U.S.-led exercises, killing two

A Ukrainian Su-27 military jet crashed during U.S.-led
air force combat training on Oct. 16 in the Vinnytsia region. A Ukrainian Air
Force officer and a U.S. Air National Guard trainer were killed during the
Clear Sky 2018 military exercises that also involved Danish pilots. “All
aviation hardware involved in the training meets all technical standards and
underwent the appropriate certification procedures,” said a statement released
by Ukraine’s Air Force. “The joint command of the Clear Sky 2018 training
reached a decision to continue flights of all types of aviation hardware.” The
Clear Sky exercises involved U.S. and Danish military personnel training
Ukrainian search-and-rescue personnel in how to find, assist and evacuate
soldiers, according to the Defense Ministry.

Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak submitted his
resignation from Ukraine’s Armed Forces in order to continue serving in his
position as a civilian, Ukrainian President Poroshenko announced at an Oct. 13
military ceremony. The president confirmed his dismissal from the armed forces,
which was necessary in order to fulfill the national security law signed into
law in July, which requires that the nation’s defense minister be a civilian as
of Jan. 1, 2019.  “Valuing the definitive contributions of Poltorak in
renewing the Armed Forces and National Guard of Ukraine, I reached the decision
that he continue leading the defense department,” Poroshenko said.

Zenon Zawada: The Su-27
crash is the latest embarrassment for the Ukrainian military after last week’s
fire at the Ichnia ammunitions depot. However, this won’t disrupt U.S.-led
training exercises to bolster the Ukrainian military amid Russian military
aggression. As infrequent observers of Ukrainian military exercises, it came as
a surprise to us that they now involve the Vinnytsia region in central Ukraine,
in addition to the westernmost Lviv region. Vinnytsia is also closer to the
Russian-controlled Transnistria region. To us, this reflects military
escalations on both sides of this conflict to control as much Ukrainian
territory as possible, with Russia moving to control the Azov Sea.

While those responsible for the Su-27 crash have
yet to be determined, Poltorak bears some responsibility for the Ichnia depot
fire (and two other recent arsenal fires). Yet the president continues to place
his confidence in Poltorak, who has been his defense minister ever since he
became president. This reveals Poltorak’s role in the president’s inner circle,
being a loyal subordinate and privy to much sensitive information. Losing him
would be more costly for Poroshenko than keeping him, despite all his
mishandlings.