Russian Black Sea Commander Sokolov Shown on Video Call after Ukraine Said it Killed Him

Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Vice-Admiral Viktor Sokolov salutes during a send-off ceremony for reservists drafted during partial mobilisation, in Sevastopol, Crimea September 27, 2022. (Reuters)
Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Vice-Admiral Viktor Sokolov salutes during a send-off ceremony for reservists drafted during partial mobilisation, in Sevastopol, Crimea September 27, 2022. (Reuters)
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Russian Black Sea Commander Sokolov Shown on Video Call after Ukraine Said it Killed Him

Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Vice-Admiral Viktor Sokolov salutes during a send-off ceremony for reservists drafted during partial mobilisation, in Sevastopol, Crimea September 27, 2022. (Reuters)
Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Vice-Admiral Viktor Sokolov salutes during a send-off ceremony for reservists drafted during partial mobilisation, in Sevastopol, Crimea September 27, 2022. (Reuters)

Admiral Viktor Sokolov, the commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, was shown on Russian state television on Tuesday attending a defense leaders' meeting remotely, a day after Ukrainian special forces said they had killed him.

In video and photographs released by the defense ministry, Sokolov was shown as one of several fleet commanders on video apparently joining an in-person meeting of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and other army chiefs, although not speaking. It was not clear when the video was filmed.

Ukraine's special forces said on Monday that Sokolov had been killed along with 33 other officers in a missile attack last week on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in the port of Sevastopol in Crimea, seized from Ukraine in 2014.

In response to the Russian video, the Ukraine special forces said on Telegram: "Since the Russians were urgently forced to publish a response with Sokolov allegedly alive, our units are clarifying the information."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had declined to comment on the Ukrainian claim, referring reporters to the ministry.

In the video, Shoigu said more than 17,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in September and that more than 2,700 weapons, including seven American Bradley fighting vehicles, had been destroyed.

Reuters could not independently verify battlefield claims.

"The Ukrainian armed forces are suffering serious losses along the entire front line," Shoigu said, adding that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had so far produced no results.

"The United States and its allies continue to arm the armed forces of Ukraine, and the Kyiv regime throws untrained soldiers to the slaughter in senseless assaults," Shoigu said.

Kyiv's counteroffensive has yet to seize much territory from Russian forces, which control about 17.5% of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory.

According to a Sept. 19 scorecard by the Belfer Center at Harvard's Kennedy School, Russia has gained 35 sq miles (91 sq km) from Ukraine in the past month while Ukrainian forces have taken 16 sq miles (41 sq km) from Russian forces.



Iranian Foreign Minister Will Consult on Iran-US Talks During Visit to Russia 

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi speaks as he meets with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, in Baghdad, Iraq October 13, 2024. (Reuters)
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi speaks as he meets with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, in Baghdad, Iraq October 13, 2024. (Reuters)
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Iranian Foreign Minister Will Consult on Iran-US Talks During Visit to Russia 

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi speaks as he meets with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, in Baghdad, Iraq October 13, 2024. (Reuters)
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi speaks as he meets with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, in Baghdad, Iraq October 13, 2024. (Reuters)

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi will visit Russia this week, the foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, and will consult with Moscow regarding the latest talks between Iran and the United States in Oman.

Iran is building up its diplomatic efforts to resolve its nuclear dispute with the West as well as release pressure from its sanctioned economy, and is set to receive UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi this week, according to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei.

Iran and the US said they held "positive" and "constructive" talks in Oman last week and agreed to reconvene on Saturday in a dialogue meant to address Tehran's escalating nuclear program.

The foreign minister's trip to Moscow would take place at the end of the week, Baghaei said. In Iran the week ends on Friday. The trip "was planned in advance, but there will be consultations regarding the talks with the US," Baghaei said.

The United States accuses Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon. Tehran says its nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes.

US President Donald Trump has threatened military action if no deal is reached on halting Iran's nuclear program, and said on Sunday that he met with advisers on Iran and expected a quick decision.

Russia, with a veto-wielding permanent seat at the UN Security Council, has played a role in nuclear negotiations between the West and Iran as an ally of Tehran and a signatory to a 2015 nuclear agreement which the US abandoned in 2018.

Moscow has called for a focus on diplomatic contacts instead of actions that may lead to an escalation.

Last week, Russia, China and Iran held consultations at expert level on the Iranian nuclear program in Moscow.