Killed in battle? Russia released new documentation of the naval commander

The commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Viktor Sokolov, was documented today (Tuesday) apparently participating in a video call with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. The documentation was released by the Russian Ministry of Defense one day after Ukrainian special forces claimed to have killed Sokolov in an attack on the Crimean Peninsula.

In the video broadcast on Russian television, it appears that Sokolov participated in a video conference with Shoigu, alongside admirals and other military officers. During the conversation, Shoigu updated Sokolov on the situation of the conflict in Ukraine, claiming that more than 17,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the past month and over 2,700 pieces of weaponry were destroyed, including some American-made armored personnel carrier.

"The United States and its allies continue to supply Ukraine with lethal aid, but they are suffering heavy losses along the entire front line," Shoigu claimed in the video. According to him, "The government in Kiev is sending untrained soldiers to be slaughtered in senseless attacks that have not yielded any results so far."

As mentioned, the special forces of Ukraine claimed last night that Sokolov was killed last week in an attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet command in the Crimean port of Sevastopol. "Following the attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet command, 34 officers were killed, including the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet," the military statement said. "Another 105 occupiers were injured, and the command building could not be restored."

Russian sources confirmed that there was a Ukrainian attack against the fleet but stated that only one missile hit the headquarters. However, they denied the casualty numbers and Sokolov's reported death. Simultaneously, it is alleged that the Russian Black Sea Fleet is repelling additional drone attacks on the Crimean peninsula, with no reported casualties or damage.