"Responsibility for the Sinking of the Moskva"... Russia Arrests Black Sea Fleet Commander

Russian President Vladimir Putin is presiding over a cabinet meeting via video conference at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow on the 10th of last month (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] It has been reported that the Russian military plans to hold the Black Sea Fleet commander accountable for the sinking of the Moskva.

On the 24th, Japan's Asahi Shimbun cited Ukrainian local media Liga.net, reporting that Igor Osipov, commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, was dismissed from his post and arrested as a disciplinary measure related to the sinking of the Moskva.

According to Liga.net, a senior official from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense's intelligence agency stated that four other generals, including the Black Sea Fleet's adjutant and a tank unit commander, are also under investigation or have been dismissed. This is due to causing significant damage to the Russian military because of insufficient operational preparation.

The media viewed this as a new phase in President Vladimir Putin's crackdown on frontline military commands. It also added that regardless of the cause of the Moskva's sinking, the issue is seen as a problem within the Russian Navy, leading to the rise of the commander responsibility theory.

Previously, the Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet and considered Russia's pride, sank on the 13th after an explosion occurred on the hull. At the time, Ukraine claimed that the sinking was caused by an attack from its Neptune anti-ship missiles. Western countries, including the United States and Europe, also assessed that this missile struck the Moskva, supporting Ukraine's claim of sinking the ship.

However, Russia's claim was different. According to Russia's Sputnik News Agency, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement on the 14th denying this, stating that a fire broke out due to an ammunition explosion inside the Moskva, causing hull damage, loss of balance, and subsequent sinking.

Furthermore, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that all approximately 500 crew members evacuated after the Moskva sank but did not disclose any further information.

Then, about a week after the sinking became known, on the 22nd, the scale of human casualties was disclosed for the first time. According to foreign media reports such as CNN, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a statement that one person died, 27 went missing, and the remaining 396 evacuated following the Moskva's sinking.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.