NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!
The head of the Ukrainian Navy received a promotion after the sinking of the Russian warship “Moscow” last week in what the authorities describe as a “brilliant operation”.
Rear Admiral Alexei Neyzhpapa has been promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral, according to a statement from the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A US official told Fox News on Friday that the latest US assessment was that “Moscow” was hit by two Ukrainian missiles before sinking.
Rear Admiral Oleksiy Neyzhpapa, Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, spoke at the opening ceremony of the multinational naval exercise Sea Breeze in the Kherson region of Ukraine in June 2021 (Press Service of the Ukrainian Navy / Distribution via REUTERS)
RUSSIA INVASES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES
“Everyone knows what a lightning operation!” Victoria Strahova, Zelenski’s adviser, wrote a post on Facebook praising Nejpapa for the promotion.
“The adviser to the head of the OP Victoria Strahova wrote on Facebook that the decision was made in view of the” brilliant operation “that everyone already knows about,” added Anton Gerashchenko, an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
“Congratulations and we wish you no less brilliant operations!” Gerashchenko also wrote in a Telegram post for Neizhpapa.
Russian missile cruiser Moscow, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, anchored in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol on September 11, 2008 (AP Photo, File)
The United States estimates that the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was about 60 nautical miles south of Odessa during an explosion on Thursday.
Moscow said the ship sank after a fire on board caused an explosion.
The Russian Navy’s guided missile cruiser “Moscow” sails to the Bosphorus, en route to the Mediterranean, in Istanbul, Turkey in June 2021 (REUTERS / Yoruk Isik)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
U.S. officials also said Friday that it was unclear how many Russian sailors may have been killed in the attack due to a lack of satellite imagery.
Authorities say two Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles are believed to have been used in the operation.
Fox News’ s Mark Meredith and Liz Friedon contributed to this report.
Add Comment