Russian bloggers say fleet commander fired after latest ship attack by Ukraine
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The appointment of Admiral Viktor Sokolov was followed by a series of humiliations for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in its war on Ukraine.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW – Russian military bloggers and a former Kremlin adviser said on Feb 15 that Moscow had fired the commander of its Black Sea Fleet, a day after Ukraine said it destroyed a large Russian ship.
There was no official confirmation on the dismissal of Admiral Viktor Sokolov.
The Russian Defence Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Adm Sokolov took up his command in September 2022, according to the ministry’s website, a few months into Russia’s war in Ukraine.
His appointment followed a series of humiliations for the Black Sea Fleet, including the sinking of its lead warship, the Moskva, by Ukrainian missiles.
Despite the change of command, Russian warships have continued to take hits from Ukrainian forces, whose own navy is tiny by comparison.
Ukraine has used uncrewed navy drones packed with explosives to attack Russian ships and try to drive them out of parts of the Black Sea, enabling it to open up a vital grain shipping corridor.
Ukraine said on Feb 14 that it had destroyed a Russian landing warship, the Caesar Kunikov, off the coast of Russian-annexed Crimea in a drone operation that breached the vessel’s port side and caused it to sink.
There was no comment from Russia.
The Ukrainian military said it has “destroyed” 25 Russian military vessels and ships and one submarine during the war to date.
The removal of Adm Sokolov was reported by Russian military bloggers and by Mr Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser, without citing sources.
In the course of the war, Russia has frequently reshuffled senior military officers without making public announcements. REUTERS
