Top Russian Naval Commander Killed?

Ukraine’s Special Operations Unit (Spetsnaz) says it took out a whole chunk of Russia’s naval leadership in a single missile attack, including the 61-year-old commander of Russia’s critical Black Sea Fleet.

Russia has not denied it, but has shown a video of the admiral in a conference call that took place after the Ukrainian strike. Admiral Viktor Sokolov appeared to blink while attending the session remotely, but he was not seen speaking, and sat in a chair that looked different to other naval commanders. The “appearance” came after Vladimir Putin’s spokesman declined to comment on claims that Sokolov had been killed — despite the claims by Ukraine.

Anti-Putin partisan group ATESH told the Kyiv Post they paid the soldiers who passed on the military intel leading to the deadly Black Sea strike as an “additional incentive”.

Vice Admiral Viktor Sokolov was drafted in to beef up the faltering navy last year. He was evidently attending a meeting of top naval and military figures. Then Ukrainian missiles crashed into his HQ building in Sevastopol.

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