The Russian Black Sea Fleet has suffered enormous losses in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
A third of the fleet has been destroyed, forcing the remaining ships to retreat from Crimea to Novorossiysk in the Krasnodar region.
But this strategy has not provided the safety they sought.
Ukrainian Magura V5 drone boats launched another attack on the fleet on the night of July 3, according to the Ukrainian military news site Militarnyi.
Alcohol Abuse in the Russian Army
In addition to the military challenges, rumors suggest that a Russian naval commander is being blamed for the weak defense of the port in Novorossiysk.
Allegedly, his heavy drinking has compromised the fleet's security.
Russian naval military blogger "Battle Sailor" reported on Telegram that this commander was regularly drunk, making the fleet vulnerable to attacks.
These allegations were translated by "War Translated," a project that translates war reports from Russian and Ukrainian into English, as reported by Newsweek and the Frankfurter Rundschau.
Alcohol abuse is a well-known issue in the Russian military.
Soldiers caught drinking on duty face severe punishment, including transfer to penal battalions.
These battalions, known as "Storm Z," are often sent to the most dangerous frontlines and have a high mortality rate.
British intelligence confirmed last year that alcohol and drug abuse are widespread problems in the Russian army.
According to the independent Russian media outlet Verstka, up to 15 percent of Russian soldiers abuse drugs. This issue extends to the higher levels of military leadership, according to recent reports.
