The Ukrainians may have blown up the Russian commander of the Black Sea Fleet

On Friday, Ukraine launched a successful attack on the headquarters of the Russian fleet in the occupied Crimean Peninsula. The facility is said to have been hit by several direct missiles, and according to assumptions, there is a high probability that a Storm Shadow missile or a Neptune missile will hit the base.

In the evening hours, several independent sources – including Crimean Winds – reported that Admiral Ektor Nikolaevich Sokolov, commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, was also killed in the attack.

Viktor Nikolaevich Sokolov Born on April 4, 1962 in Bendere, Moldavian Soviet Federative Republic, he had a distinguished career in the Russian Navy. His service history includes roles as commander of patrol, torpedo and minesweeping ships, chief of staff of minesweeping sections, and holding leadership positions within the Pacific Fleet. He also served as Chief of Operations, Pacific Fleet Command, and Chief of Staff and Commander, 165th Surface Fleet, Pacific Fleet.

Sokolov later held important duties in the Northern Fleet, becoming deputy commander and then commander of the various Primorsk fleet forces. On August 10, 2022, Sokolov took over as Acting Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, succeeding Admiral Igor Osipov. Later, on September 14, 2022, he was officially appointed Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, and the flag handing over ceremony took place on October 7 of the same year.

Cover image: Muromets, a ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Source: German News Agency via Getty Images.