Leonid Kuchma Found Just the Right Words

The President of Ukraine has accepted the resignation of Minister of Defense Gen. Oleksandr Kuzmuk. Pres. Kuchma announced this on October 24, when he appeared on Ukraine’s Television Channel One to comment on the preliminary results of the investigation into the crash of the Russian Sibir Tu-154 airliner. Also, according to the head of state, “A number of other top military officers have been relieved of their official duties. It has been ordered to suspend the deployment of antiaircraft missile systems by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, while their performance is verified and to thoroughly inspect all other Ukrainian air defense facilities for conformity to safety requirements, a task has been given to urgently make qualitative improvements in the way the military reform is being carried out and to impose effective civilian control over the Armed Forces.” Other vital decisions will be made after the commission has finished its work on November 4, he said.

The president announced, “The commission has stated definitely that the air crash occurred due to a tragic and fatal confluence of circumstances resulting in an unintentional hitting of the aircraft by a Ukrainian antiaircraft missile during exercises in the Crimea.” In consequence, chief of state offered his apologies to relatives and friends of the victims and “to all stricken by this grave misfortune... We are aware of our obligation to do our best to make up for it.” On behalf of Ukraine and himself, the president expressed sincere condolences and thanks to the governments of Israel and Russia for “adequately understanding the difficult situation that resulted from the tragedy.” According to Mr. Kuchma, the investigation into what caused the disaster was long because “the experts did not have the right to make even the slightest error, and the conditions under which it was conducted were difficult.”