Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly sacked the commander of the country’s Black Sea Fleet following Ukraine’s successful drone strike last week that sank the Caesar Kunikov, an amphibious assault ship. It was at least the fourth Russian warship taken out in the last seven months and occurred only two weeks after the sinking of the Ivanovets, a missile-firing naval corvette.

Several influential Russian military bloggers and Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin advisor, reported the Feb. 15 firing of Adm. Viktor Sokolov. To date, the move has not yet been confirmed by the Kremlin.

“This [firing] is highly likely to be the result of Ukraine’s success in sinking various ships under his command,” British military officials said Sunday on social media. “Sokolov’s leadership style may have also played a role in his dismissal.”

He is expected to be replaced by his deputy, Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk.

“Whether this personnel decision will stop the systematic loss of the Black Sea Fleet ships, time will tell,” said the Russian blogger “Romonov Light.”

In September 2023, Ukrainian officials erroneously reported that Adm. Sokolov was among those killed in a missile strike that destroyed the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Crimea but that was not the case.

• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.