Russian Black Sea Fleet Commander Appears After Ukraine Claims He Was 'Dead'

According to RIA Novosti, the meeting was chaired by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The Russian Defense Ministry released photos and videos of the meeting showing Sokolov and top generals of the Russian Navy and Army.

Admiral Sokolov attended the meeting in full military uniform, according to an eight-minute video clip shown on Russian state television. He appeared on screen several times and was not quoted.

Tư lệnh Hạm đội Biển Đen của Nga xuất hiện sau tuyên bố 'thiệt mạng' từ Ukraine - Ảnh 1. — Admiral Viktor Sokolov

Earlier on September 26, when asked about Mr. Sokolov's situation at a press conference, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no information about the commander and asked reporters to contact the Russian Ministry of Defense.

On September 25, the Ukrainian military's special operations forces announced that 34 officers, including Mr. Sokolov, were killed in Kyiv's attack on the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in the city of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula on September 22.

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On the day of the attack, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its forces had shot down five Ukrainian missiles, one Black Sea Fleet serviceman was missing and a headquarters building was damaged.

In the latest video released by the Russian Defense Ministry, Minister Shoigu said more than 17,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in September and more than 2,700 weapons, including seven US Bradley fighting vehicles, were destroyed.

"The Ukrainian armed forces are suffering serious losses along the entire front line," Shoigu told his generals, adding that Ukraine's counteroffensive had so far failed to produce results.

“The United States and its allies continue to arm the armed forces of Ukraine, and the Kyiv regime throws untrained soldiers into the slaughter in senseless attacks,” Shoigu said at the meeting.

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Kyiv did not immediately comment on the latest information from the Russian Defense Ministry.

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