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The head of Ukraine’s navy was promoted following the sinking of the Russian warship Moskva last week in what officials have dubbed a “brilliant operation”.
According to a statement from the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rear Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa has been promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral.
A US official told Fox News on Friday that the latest US assessment is that the Moscow River was hit by two Ukrainian missiles before it sank.
Rear Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, commander of the Ukrainian Naval Forces, speaks during the opening ceremony for the multinational maritime exercise Sea Breeze in the Kherson region of Ukraine in June 2021. (Ukrainian Naval Forces Press Service/Handout via REUTERS)
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“Everyone knows what a flash operation!” Victoria Strakhova, an adviser to Zelenskyi, wrote in a Facebook post praising Neizhpapa for the promotion.
“Advisor to the head of the OP Victoria Strakhova wrote on Facebook that the decision was made in light of the ‘brilliant operation’ that everyone already knows about,” added Anton Gerashchenko, an official at Ukraine’s Interior Ministry.
“Congratulations and we wish you continued operations no less brilliant!” Gerashchenko also wrote about Neizhpapa in a Telegram post.
The Russian missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, is moored September 11, 2008 in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol. (AP Photo, File)
The US believes the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Navy was about 60 nautical miles south of Odessa at the time of Thursday’s blast.
Moscow claims the ship sank after a fire on board caused an explosion.
The Russian Navy’s guided missile cruiser Moskva sails across the Bosphorus en route to the Mediterranean Sea in Istanbul, Turkey, June 2021. (REUTERS/Yoruk Isik)
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US officials also said Friday it was unclear how many Russian sailors might have been killed in the attack due to the lack of satellite imagery.
Officials said two Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles are believed to have been used in the operation.
Fox News’ Mark Meredith and Liz Friden contributed to this report.