The commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, died in Ukraine’s barrage on occupied Crimea last week, Kyiv said Monday.

“After the defeat of the headquarters of the Russian armed forces, 34 officers died, including the commander of the Russian armed forces. Another 105 occupiers were wounded. The headquarters building cannot be restored,” Ukraine’s special operations forces said Monday.

In an initial statement after the attack, the Russian defense ministry said it had shot down five incoming missiles and only one serviceman was killed, though the fleet’s headquarters were damaged.

But rumors about Sokolov’s death circulated online and Ukraine jumped Monday at the chance to confirm the speculation. POLITICO has not independently verified the claims.

The attack was the latest in Ukraine’s quest to liberate occupied Crimea, which Russian President Vladimir Putin seized in 2014. Two weeks ago, Ukraine wrecked a Russian submarine in the port of Sevastopol and also regained control of strategically important oil and gas drilling platforms located in the Black Sea.

  • NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    They could all just go home and this would be over tomorrow…I know there’s a lot of geopolitics to why this is still going on, but it really is that simple.

    Just leave Ukraine…

    • vamp07@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      They can’t leave because apparently Ukraine is Nazi infested.

    • joystick@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It’s not clear when the footage, where Viktor Sokolov appears on a video link with the defence minister, was filmed

      Read your own article.

    • ours@lemmy.film
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      1 year ago

      Russian video ‘shows Black Sea fleet commander alive’”

      Ah yes, case closed! Russian’s would never lie and always announce their losses.

      Not to say Ukraine isn’t exaggerating but one propaganda doesn’t cancels out another propaganda.

      • GodlessCommie@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Exactly like the US and Ukriane claiming Ukriane is winning. They are being funded and provided weapons from nearly every western country and can’t seem to fight off Russia? They don’t want Ukraine to win, they want to prolong it for the benefit of capital

        • ours@lemmy.film
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          1 year ago

          I’m not going to deny NATO has a strong interest in tying up and depleting Russia’s fighting power as long as possible but I have strong doubts about Ukraine not making gains.

          War sucks and “winning” is a complicated concept. You can lose most battles and still “win”, especially during an invasion. If Ukraine can keep up the fight and outlast Russia’s will/ability to fight (or outlast Putin), they can “win”.

          I’m leftist, but Russia today doesn’t represent any leftist ideals. It’s a country run by ultra-rich thugs stealing their country rich in wealth and now of blood. In the West, we are all sorts of fucked up but it’s the lesser evil right now. Please consider not supporting murderous thieves, that doesn’t mean supporting the capitalist thieves.

          • GodlessCommie@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Where in my comment does it indicate I support Russia? Criticizing Ukriane does not equate to support for Russia. I’m pointing out that the same people claiming we were winning in Afghanistan and Iraq are claiming Ukraine is winning now. The same people that’s telling us the economy is good, despite our reality that it isn’t.

            • ours@lemmy.film
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              1 year ago

              Took you for a Vatnik with the USSR flag. But there’s nothing wrong with some healthy skepticism and of course, both sides are cranking out propaganda.

    • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      It’s not clear when the footage, where Viktor Sokolov appears on a video link with the defence minister, was filmed

      Yeah Russia kinda has a habit of showing weeks old videos and claiming “see? Alive!” Magic!

  • nucleative@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Serious question… if the Ukrainians attack Russian assets on Russian soil, there has got to be some red line that could push Putin to consider nukes in retaliation.

    I presume the Ukrainian calculus with this is to remove Russia’s will to fight but do not push so far that Russia becomes afraid for it’s existence.

    “A cornered rat will attack the cat” or something like that.

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      This was Crimea, which is certainly territory in contention so fair game.

      Ukraine seems quick to claim responsibility for attacks on their territory, but tries to leave plausible deniability when against Russian territory - it could be Russians doing it and Ukraine only supported them

    • steltek@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Most nuclear countries have had conventional conflicts since 1945. Many have lost without (publicly) considering nukes. The closest was the UN vs China in the 50’s and it got MacArthur removed from command for asking.

      • ours@lemmy.film
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        1 year ago

        During the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, the US military started a nuclear contingency plan. LBJ shot it down.

    • m0nky@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 year ago

      Stop fear mongering. I guess this account is from a Russian troll farm or something. Well, fuck you, Russia.