1/ The recently-sacked Admiral Viktor Sokolov was reportedly dismissed for ordering the large landing ship Caesar Kunikov to go to sea without a working propulsion system. The Ukrainian sea drone attack on 14 February is said to have ambushed the ship while it was under tow. ⬇️ 
2/ Sokolov's sacking took place without an official explanation, and there was also no explanation of what the Caesar Kunikov was doing off Alupka in Crimea at the time it was sunk. The VChK-OGPU Telegram channel has published an (unconfirmed) explanation of both occurrences.
3/ According to a source quoted by the channel, the Caesar Kunikov had suffered a serious technical malfunction and had left Novorossiysk on the night of 12 February to go to Sevastopol for repairs. It was unable to provide independent propulsion, so it was accompanied by tugs.
4/ Sokolov, who was until this week the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, is said to have been well aware of the threat from sea drones (USVs), particularly to a vessel with reduced capabilities, but still issued the order. It resulted in the loss of the ship.
5/ According to the source, there were no fatalities during the attack on 14 February – the crew was rescued or evacuated before the ship went down – but a number of them were seriously injured and are "still fighting for their lives."
6/ The large landing ship Novocherkassk was also under repair when it was destroyed at Feodosiya, which is much closer to Novorossiysk. The Caesar Kunikov's voyage to Sevastopol suggests that the ship repair facilities at Feodosiya may be inoperable after that attack. /end
Source:
t.me/vchkogpu/45877
t.me/vchkogpu/45877
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