Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Is Losing So Many Assets Sailors Are Being Sent to Drone Forces

Russia is reportedly considering removing Black Sea Fleet commander Admiral Sergey Pinchuk following a string of major naval losses, while fleet specialists are being reassigned to newly created drone warfare units, according to the partisan movement Atesh on May 13.

Atesh said one of its agents embedded within the 475th Separate Electronic Warfare Center of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet reported that Russian military leadership has already decided to transfer naval personnel into the newly formed Unmanned Systems Forces.

According to the group, the move is being driven both by heavy fleet losses and by what Russian commanders describe as an urgent need to staff the expanding drone warfare branch.

“The command decided that personnel would be used more effectively this way,” Atesh stated.

The partisan movement also claimed that criticism of Admiral Pinchuk’s leadership is no longer being discussed privately within the fleet.

“It’s being discussed openly now, not in whispers anymore—everyone understands he’s failing,” the Atesh agent reportedly said.

According to the report, Pinchuk’s inability to protect Russian warships and coastal bases has seriously damaged confidence in his leadership, and discussions are now underway regarding his possible removal from command.

Atesh described the growing personnel transfers and internal criticism as evidence of the deteriorating combat capability of Russia’s naval forces following repeated setbacks and losses in the Black Sea during the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Earlier, reports emerged that Russian forces have begun equipping Project 21980 “Grachonok” anti-sabotage patrol boats with improvised anti-drone netting following a series of Ukrainian naval drone attacks near the Kerch Bridge in occupied Crimea.

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