Russia replaces head of navy after Black Sea fleet losses;

Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced Russian Navy chief Admiral Nikolay Yevmenov, state media confirmed. Admiral Alexander Moiseyev has been appointed acting Navy commander-in-chief replacing Yevmenov. Moiseyev was for the first time officially introduced in the new position at the celebrations of the Submariner Day in Kronshtadt, Russian state-owned Tass news agency reported.

“The ceremony of handing over the ship bowls to submarine crews of the Navy begins. Acting Navy Commander-in-Chief Hero of Russia Admiral Alexander Moiseyev,” the presenter of the ceremony said.

To remind, Russia’s navy is curtailing its operations to the eastern Black Sea, according to a new assessment, following a run of Ukrainian strikes on Moscow’s key assets in the region.

Amid these mounting losses, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu stepped in to announce a new set of protective measures for his naval assets.

“The Russian Navy has highly likely resorted to limiting its operations to the eastern Black Sea as its losses mount and its threat perceptions increase,” the UK’s Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine said.

British Intelligence noted Shoigu’s recent visit was ultimately prompted by the Ukrainian military’s continued success in the Black Sea.

“With Ukraine continuing to seek out opportunities to strike at distance, the Russian ministry of defence has been prompted to increase its efforts to preserve its fleet in the Black Sea,” the UK’s Defence Intelligence added.

Moiseyev was Russia’s Northern fleet commander since 2019 and now replaced Admiral Nikolay Yevmenov.

In accordance with the data of the Russian ministry of defence, Yevmenov was commander of the Northern Fleet in 2016 and in 2019 he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian navy.

Tass also reported that Vice Admiral Konstantin Kabantsov was appointed acting commander of the Northern fleet, replacing Admiral Alexander Moiseyev. Kabantsov was Northern fleet chief-of-staff and first deputy commander since October 2021.

“Acting Northern fleet Commander Vice Admiral Konstantin Kabantsov and Murmansk Region Governor Andrey Chibis congratulated the crew of the Emperor Alexander III strategic submarine with the 118th anniversary of the Russian underwater fleet,” Tass said.