British intelligence believes that the removal of the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Viktor Sokolov, occurred due to significant losses recently - the patrol ship Sergei Kotov became the third Russian warship destroyed by Ukrainian forces in the last five weeks.

“On March 5, 2024, Ukraine’s Military Agency (GUR) stated that thy had attacked and sunk the Russian BYKOV-class patrol ship Sergei Kotov, close to the Kerch Straits in the eastern Black Sea. GUR stated the attack on the Sergei Kotov used ‘Magura V5’ maritime unscrewed surface vehicles (USV); the same type of USVsused in the 14 February 2024 attack on the Russian Landing Ship, Tsezar Kunikov,” according to a report published on Wednesday on the social network X of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

As noted, “Sergei Kotov only commissioned into the Black Sea Fleet in July 2022. It had been previously targeted by USVs in July and September 2023, sustaining minor damage and returning to service shortly after on both occasions.”

“This is the third Russian Black Sea Fleet vessel sunk in the past five weeks. Likely because of Black Sea Fleet losses, on February 15, 2024, the Black Sea Fleet Commander, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, was dismissed,” the British Intelligence concluded and added: “Ukraine continues to limit the freedom of manoeuvre of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea.”