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Photo: Social networks
Flagship of the Black Sea Fleet missile cruiser Moscow after being hit by Ukrainian anti-ship cruise missiles Neptune
The Ukrainian strikes forced the Black Sea Fleet to redeploy most of its naval assets from its main base in Sevastopol.
The Ministry of Defense of Russia intends to protect the Russian Black Sea Fleet. In this regard, it replaced the commander of the Black Sea Fleet. Analysts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this in their report.
The position of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu regarding the "protection" of the Black Sea Fleet creates the conditions for Shoigu to either take credit if the Black Sea Fleet defends itself more effectively against Ukrainian strikes, or blame other commanders if the Black Sea Fleet fails in these efforts.
Ukrainian strikes in the Black Sea forced the Black Sea Fleet to redeploy most of its naval assets from its main base in Sevastopol to smaller and less capable bases in Novorossiysk and elsewhere. In particular, approximately 33% of the warships of the Black Sea Fleet as of the beginning of February 2024, including 24 ships and one submarine, have been decommissioned, the experts recalled.
Analysts noted that Shoigu visited the command post of the Black Sea Fleet in occupied Sevastopol in Crimea. He stated that the Black Sea Fleet should conduct daily strike drills and ordered the Black Sea Fleet to install additional weapons, including large-caliber systems and machine guns, to strengthen Russian defenses.
Shoigu also heard a speech from Russian Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk, who, according to some Russian media reports, recently replaced Admiral Viktor Sokolov as commander of the Black Sea Fleet, ISW added.
