RUSSIAN BLACK SEA FLEET COMMANDER AMONG 34 OFFICERS KILLED, UKRAINE SAYS

Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Viktor Sokolov.

Tue 26 September 2023:

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While Independent Press takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Adm. Viktor Sokolov, the head of Russia’s Black Sea navy, and 33 other officers allegedly killed in one of Kyiv’s boldest assaults yet on the occupied Crimean peninsula, according to Ukrainian claims.

The attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s Sevastopol command center on Friday, according to the Ukrainian military, was timed to coincide with a gathering of naval officers.

“After the strike on the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea fleet, 34 officers died, including the commander of the Russian Black Sea fleet. Another 105 occupiers were wounded. The headquarters building cannot be restored,” the special forces said on the Telegram messaging app.

UKRAINE CLAIMS STRIKE ON RUSSIAN BLACK SEA FLEET HQ KILLED NINE AND INJURED SENIOR OFFICERS

Ukraine has accelerated its tempo of attacks on Crimea in recent weeks as it tries to deal strategic and symbolic blows to Russian forces that forcibly invaded the peninsula in 2014.

The strike on Friday was captured on camera by Ukrainian media over the weekend, and it showed British-made Storm Shadow missiles striking the roof of the naval headquarters in Sevastopol.

The Russian defence ministry has not yet commented on Ukraine’s claim. Moscow has previously confirmed Ukraine’s attack but said that one serviceman was missing as a result of the attack.

While the report did not name Sokolov, Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs, posted the admiral’s name and a photo on social media.

Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet admiral Viktor Sokolov died in the missile strike on the Fleet's headquarters, along with 34 more officers. 105 more were wounded. The building is not suitable for restoration – Special Operations Forces of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/2EQHl7WxJy

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) September 25, 2023

The Independent Press cannot independently confirm Ukraine’s claims about Sokolov or the number of casualties.

Sokolov was appointed as the new commander of the Crimea-based Black Sea fleet in August 2022, reportedly to shore up the defences of Crimea after it was first hit by a series of Ukrainian explosions last summer.

He previously held a series of posts in the Pacific and Northern Fleets, serving as deputy commander in the latter.

Over the weekend, Ukraine’s intelligence head, Kyrylo Budanov, told Voice of America that at least nine people had been killed and 16 others wounded in Friday’s strike. Budanov did not mention Sokolov, but claimed that Alexander Romanchuk, a Russian general commanding forces along the main south-eastern frontline, was “in a very serious condition” after the attack.

Both sides have exaggerated enemy losses since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine 19 months ago, while often staying quiet about their own casualties. But given Sokolov’s seniority, it is unlikely that Moscow would be able to conceal his death for a prolonged period.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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