In a recent turn of events, Russia’s Defence Ministry has countered Ukraine’s assertions by releasing a video showing Viktor Sokolov, the Black Sea Fleet’s commander, at a conference. Ukraine had previously claimed they had killed Sokolov in a missile strike.
The video depicts Viktor Sokolov participating in a virtual meeting with Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu and other senior officials. However, the exact timing of the video remains a topic of debate. Russia’s Defence Ministry is adamant that this meeting took place on Tuesday, directly conflicting with Ukraine’s claims from Monday.
Ukraine’s special forces had announced that Adm Sokolov, along with 33 other officers, perished in a missile attack on the Black Sea Fleet’s headquarters in occupied Crimea’s Sevastopol. Notably, the Ukrainian authorities did not specifically name Sokolov in their announcement and did not furnish evidence of his supposed demise. Currently, they are revisiting and “clarifying” their initial reports on the incident.
The eight-minute video showcases a Defence Ministry collegium in Moscow, which is said to have convened on Tuesday morning. It features Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu in conversation with top-ranking officials. Throughout the footage, commanders from Russia’s five fleets are visible on a video link, though their real-time presence, including that of Adm Sokolov, remains unverified by independent entities.
Adding another layer to this unfolding narrative, Ukraine had proclaimed last Friday that it had successfully targeted the headquarters of Russia’s esteemed Black Sea fleet. The subsequent fallout was evident on social media, with users sharing visuals of smoke emanating from the impacted site. While Russia conceded to shooting down five missiles associated with this attack, they also reported one serviceman as missing post-engagement.
Kyiv’s forces have maintained an aggressive posture, launching consistent strikes against Russian military installations based in Crimea.
The Black Sea fleet, stationed in Crimea, has historical significance, symbolizing Russia’s longstanding military legacy in the region. Interestingly, Russia had secured its fleet in Crimea under a leasing pact even before its contentious annexation of the peninsula in 2014.
