The flagship 'Moskva', the naval vessel Tsezar Kunikov, and most recently the patrol ship Sergej Kotov have all been losses for Russia's Black Sea Fleet in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
It appears that these losses have reached a tipping point for Vladimir Putin.
According to various Russian media sources, including Fontanka and Moscow Times, which cite anonymous insiders familiar with the situation, the commander-in-chief of Russia's navy, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, has been relieved of his duties.
Admiral Alexander Moiseyev is reported to be his replacement.
If these reports are accurate, the dismissal comes at a time when Ukraine is gaining momentum in the maritime aspect of the conflict.
The Ukrainian-made Magura drones have recently struck the Russian warships Tsezar Kunikov and Sergej Kotov in the past weeks. The former was sunk, while the latter reportedly sustained significant damage.
Despite these reports, Nikolai Yevmenov is still listed as the head of the navy on the Russian Ministry of Defense's website, according to Fontanka. However, the prevailing opinion within the Admiralty seems to be that his career is over, and he will not be returning to his office.
