Black Sea situation stabilization and combat capability improvement are first tasks of newly appointed Russian Navy commander – UK intel

Following a series of significant Russian vessel losses in the Black Sea, on March 10, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation Navy, Admiral Nikolay Yevmenov, was highly likely removed from the position and replaced by Northern Fleet commander, Admiral Moiseyev.

Although a career submariner, prior to his appointment as Northern Fleet commander, Admiral Moiseyev held command of the Black Sea Fleet between 2018 and 2019.

The sacking of Admiral Yevmenov comes after the removal of the second Black Sea Fleet commander since February 2022 and follows the loss of the Sergey Kotov corvette on March 5, the ninth major vessel to be lost to Ukrainian action since full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The reshuffle at the top of the Russian naval command was first reported by Russian media on March 10. However, the Kremlin refused to comment on Yevmenov’s dismissal.

“There are decrees classified as secret,” Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters.”

“I cannot comment on them. There were no open decrees published about this.”

The Russian Defense Ministry's website still lists Yevmenov as the Navy commander.