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Russia May Oust Black Sea Fleet Commander as Naval Failures Mount in Crimea
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia’s top military leadership is considering a change in the command of its Black Sea Fleet following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes that exposed persistent vulnerabilities in coastal and naval defenses.
The information comes from the partisan movement ATESH, which claims to have sources embedded within the fleet’s staff.
ATESH reported that discussions are underway within Russian military circles about replacing Admiral Sergey Pinchuk, who currently commands the Black Sea Fleet. The likely successor is believed to be his first deputy, Vice Admiral Akhmerov.
The report cites systemic shortcomings in defending Russian naval assets from Ukrainian unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), also known as drone boats. According to ATESH, these failings have led to internal briefings and evaluations at the highest levels of the Russian defense establishment.
The partisan network claims responsibility for supporting Ukrainian operations by providing intelligence on Russian vessels, repair facilities, and military bases in both Crimea and Novorossiysk. They allege that Ukraine’s Armed Forces have used this information to target and damage key assets of the Black Sea Fleet.
According to ATESH, the past six months have seen at least eight successful Ukrainian USV strikes on Russian naval targets, including in Sevastopol and other occupied Crimean ports.
In multiple cases, Russian detection systems reportedly failed to identify incoming threats, and response teams were delayed by 20 to 40 minutes—resulting in direct hits on infrastructure and vessels.
These claims follow other reported strikes. On January 17, Ukraine’s Defense Forces said they targeted a Russian Nebo-U radar system near Yevpatoriya and a Pantsir-S1 air defense system near Khutirka. Earlier in January, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that FPV drones had hit a Russian fuel convoy near Hvardiiske in Crimea.
Despite Moscow’s public claims of maintaining control over the situation in Crimea, ATESH asserts that the attacks demonstrate a fundamental breakdown in defensive planning and operational readiness.
The Black Sea Fleet has suffered a series of high-profile losses since 2022, including the sinking of the flagship Moskva, repeated strikes on shipyards and radar systems, and the relocation of several key vessels to safer ports outside Crimea.
On December 15, Ukraine’s Security Service used a “Sub Sea Baby” underwater drone to strike a Russian Varshavyanka-class submarine in the port of Novorossiysk, reportedly rendering the $400 million vessel inoperable.
The operation was conducted with the Ukrainian Navy and inflicted critical damage on the submarine, which was armed with Kalibr cruise missiles.
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