Conflicting Reports: Ukraine Claims Russian Admiral Dead, Russia Disputes
Ukraine claims that a missile strike on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol killed high-ranking Russian military officials, including Adm. Viktor Sokolov. In response, Russia's Defense Ministry released a video showing Sokolov alive and attending a meeting via video link. The authenticity of the video could not be independently verified. Ukraine's special operations forces stated that 34 Russian officers were killed in the strike but are seeking more information about Sokolov's fate. The strike on Sevastopol is an embarrassing failure for Russian air defenses, and Ukraine has been targeting the Black Sea Fleet in its attacks on Crimea.