Russian Navy Appoints New Commander-in-Chief Amidst Rising Conflict

According to Russian news sources, Admiral Alexander Moiseev has been appointed as the acting Commander In Chief of the Russian Navy, replacing Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, who served in that position since May 2019. The Russian Navy has encountered several setbacks in the Black Sea as a result of Ukrainian forces using drones and missiles to target Russian warships. This has led to a shift in leadership.

Admiral Moiseev, who previously commanded the Northern Fleet, is claimed to have been appointed as the Russian Navy’s acting Commander-in-Chief. He received training as a submariner under the Soviet Union. In 1998, he famously supervised the nuclear-powered submarine that is believed to have launched the first commercial microsatellites into orbit.

Admiral Yevmenov’s replacement was decided upon in response to criticism of the Russian Navy’s actions during the continuing conflict with Ukraine. According to reports, Russian warships that were damaged by Ukrainian assaults were forced to leave the Crimean peninsula. There have reportedly been injuries after a Ukrainian drone sank a Russian patrol ship in a recent incident.

The Ministry of Defense and the Kremlin have not issued an official statement on the shift in naval leadership. Russian forces are progressing in the Eastern Donbas region of Ukraine despite challenges in the maritime. On the other hand, Ukrainian soldiers are giving up tough competition, especially in areas like Chasiv Yar. Ukrainian defences are being strengthened by digging trenches, laying minefields, and erecting defensive positions.

There have also been worries expressed about Russia possibly using strategic nuclear weapons, especially considering Ukrainian victories in the late 2022 region of Kharkiv and Kherson. According to reports, senior Russian military leaders were discussing the logistics of deploying such weapons on the battlefield, and US officials were informed of these discussions through communication intercepts. Therefore, the US military has been preparing for various circumstances in response to this risk.

Reference: kyivindependent, Telegraph

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Source: Maritime Shipping News