Mystery as Russia releases ‘new footage’ of Black Sea fleet admiral to prove he is alive – a day after Ukraine claimed he had been killed in devastating strike on Crimea HQ
Mystery as Russia releases ‘new images’ of Black Sea Fleet admiral to prove he’s alive – a day after Ukraine claimed he was killed in devastating attack on Crimea headquarters
- Ukraine had claimed yesterday that Admiral Viktor Sokolov had been killed in the attack
The commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was reportedly photographed alive today – a day after Ukraine announced he had been killed in a missile attack.
In footage released by the Russian Defense Ministry, Viktor Sokolov appears to take part in a video conference with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and other top admirals and army leaders.
While Sokolov appeared to blink as he attended the session remotely, he was not seen speaking, and sat in a chair that looked different from those of other naval commanders.
The ‘appearance’ came after Vladimir Putin’s spokesman refused to comment on claims that Sokolov had been murdered.
Ukraine claimed on Monday that Sokolov was among 34 officers killed in a devastating rocket attack on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol.
In a photo released by the Russian Ministry of Defense, Viktor Sokolov (circled) appears to take part in a video conference with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (main photo on video screen) and other top admirals and army leaders.
Ukraine claimed on Monday that Sokolov (pictured) was among 34 officers killed in a devastating rocket attack on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol.
Ukraine also claimed that 105 soldiers were injured in the attack on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters
Today’s Russian footage left open the possibility that old video footage of the commander was superimposed on a meeting chaired by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shogun.
There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian forces.
But the Ukrainian cable channel Crimea’s Wind reported the existence of the Russian footage and said it appeared that Sokolov had attended “the Ministry of Defense board.”
It added: ‘It’s a shame, of course.’
Ukraine also claimed that 105 soldiers were injured in the attack on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters.
Putin-loyal Russian Telegram channels immediately claimed that Ukraine had been caught in lies.
Today’s Russian footage left open the possibility that old video footage of the commander was superimposed on a meeting chaired by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shogun.
Sevastopol before (top) and after (bottom) a rocket attack struck the headquarters of Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet on Friday in a suspected Ukrainian attack deep in Russian-occupied territory
“We can say that the statement of the enemy (of) the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces that the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, died during the destruction of the fleet headquarters in Sevastopol is not true,” he said. Gray Zone.
The military informant channel said: ‘The commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, appeared today at the board meeting of the Ministry of Defense.
‘Previously, Ukrainian media and intelligence services claimed that Sokolov was killed as a result of an attack on the fleet headquarters in Sevastopol.
“The point is that the command staff has not been in the headquarters for a long time, and this is well known to the Ukrainian armed forces.
“So no commander… could have died there (nor dozens of officers).”
The reported breakthrough came as Kiev said senior Russian naval commanders were among dozens killed or wounded in a missile attack on Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Crimea.