A couple of days after Russia launched its intrusion of surrounding Ukraine, Russian conscript sailor Mark Tarasov composed to his mother in St.

Petersburg from aboard the Black Sea Fleets flagship, the Moskva.

Im great.

Alive.

We are all excellent.

I do not actually understand what is happening in the world today, just in fundamental terms, he wrote, according to a picture posted by his mom on social media network VKontakte.

I cant wait to return [home], 9 more months left.

Less than two months later, a set of Ukrainian anti-ship rockets struck the Moskva in the seas off Odesa, causing a big fire.

Eventually, the ship sank.

The sinking of the Moskva, the pride of Russias Black Sea Fleet, was the first in a series of symbolic obstacles suffered by the fleet in the 200 days since Moscow ordered soldiers into its pro-Western next-door neighbor.

Defeats at sea and on land have actually substantially decreased the fleets offending capabilities and-- according to reports-- led to the removal of its commander.

One Western main supposedly stated last month that, as a result of its losses, the Black Sea Fleet was now little bit more than a coast defense flotilla.

Particularly obvious has actually been the destruction of males and equipment in Ukrainian attacks, including at least 10 marine vessels, according to Oryx, an intelligence blog that tracks Russian military losses.

With the loss of the Moskva, hundreds of marines and a variety of other ships, the fleet likely no longer has the battle power to support totally cutting Ukraine off from the Black Sea, stated independent military analyst Pavel Luzin.

Mark Tarasov and his mom Ulyana.Ulyana Tarasova/ vk.comA Ukrainian missile sank the landing ship Saratov in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian port city of Berdyansk in March and Ukraine has given that harmed or damaged 5 patrol boats, according to Oryx.

The rescue pull Vassily Bekh was sunk in June as it provided weapons and personnel to Snake Island, the tactical station which was later on abandoned by Russian forces.

Perhaps most symbolically, the Black Sea Fleets head office in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol has actually been attacked not as soon as-- but twice.

An apparent drone strike in late July led to 6 casualties and the cancellation of prepared Navy Day celebrations.

Three weeks later on, another drone struck the exact same structure, sending out a plume of black smoke into the sky.

In addition to the loss of marine vessels, the Black Sea Fleet has likewise seen the destruction of other military devices and a high level of workers casualties.More than half of the Black Sea Fleets fight jets were put out of use last month when a series of explosions occurred at Saki air base in Crimea, according to an assessment by an unidentified Western official quoted by Reuters.

Saki air base in Crimea after a Ukrainian attack.Maxar Technologies/ AFPAnd the Black Sea Fleets specialized 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade supposedly took numerous casualties when it combated as part of Russian forces attacking the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

Since July, the brigade had actually lost over 66 people, according to news outlet Krym Realii, an affiliate of U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, while Ukrainian intelligence declared last month the figure was closer to 300.

Amongst the brigades dead was its leader Colonel Alexei Sharov, supposedly eliminated on March 22 in Mariupol.

Created to forecast Russian naval power over former Soviet countries and the eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea Fleets frailties have actually been completely exposed since Russia launched its intrusion of Ukraine in February, Analysts stated one reason for the fleets bad performance was that many of its ships and systems needed modernization.

While smaller than Russias Baltic or Pacific fleets, the pre-war Black Sea Fleet included about 50 vessels, around 4,000 marines and a small air wing.

Its mounting losses of guys and materiel were likely a factor in Moscows current decision to shock the fleets military command, professionals said.

Igor Osipov was eliminated as Black Sea Fleet leader and changed by Vice Admiral Victor Sokolov last month, according to state-run media.

Although the fleet at first rejected the reports, Sokolov, who was the deputy commander of Russias Northern Fleet between 2013 and 2020, later confirmed his consultation.

Poor preparation, apparent negligence, and a basic lackadaisical attitude of the Black Sea Fleet most likely led to Osipovs firing, Michael Kofman, director of the Russia Studies Program for the Virginia-based think tank CNA, informed Politico last month.

Russian cruiser Moskva after it was struck by Ukrainian missiles.@ua_industrial/ twitterWhile Sokolov might present a new technique, his alternatives are restricted due to the fact that Russia has no chance to enhance the fleet after Turkey closed the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian warships in March.

The problem is that not all ships in the Black Sea Fleet exist, naval analyst Ben Claremont told The Moscow Times, including that an essential absence was the Admiral Grigorovich, a modern frigate released in 2014.

Russia is particularly spread out thin in regards to modern-day air defense abilities in the location, analysts stated, with routine reports of Ukrainian drones over the Crimean peninsula.

With reductions to its strength and problems with supports, the Black Sea Fleet is left with few significant roles apart from blockading Ukrainian ports and continuing to introduce cruise missiles lots of dozens of miles from the Ukrainian coast.Many of the practically 4,000 missiles fired into Ukraine considering that the start of the intrusion have actually been Kalibr ship-launched rockets fired from Russian frigates and submarines in the Black Sea.Sailors with the Black Sea Fleet and their family members declined to comment on the travails of one of Russias many prestigious marine systems when gotten in touch with by The Moscow Times.

My leader wont enable it, stated one sailor in response to a message.

However the loss of the flagship Moskva and the fate of its crew-- which Moscow at first stated had been fully evacuated prior to its sinking-- stays an especially sensitive subject.

Smoke belches over the Azovstal iron and steel plant during battling in Mariupol.Sergei Bobylev/ TASSRussias Defense Ministry later stated one team member was killed and 27 were missing out on-- however the households of a minimum of five sailors on the ship have actually reportedly gotten death notifications.

Amongst those verified dead is cook Yegor Shkrebets, whose household lastly received an official death certificate 110 days after the sinking.

I have a lot of questions when it pertains to the rescue operation.

I doubt it was performed as it should have been, Shkrebetss dad told The Moscow Times.

Ulyana Tarasova, whose son Mark Tarasov was on the Moskva when it decreased, did not reply to messages from The Moscow Times, but social media posts suggest she is still waiting for verification of what occurred to her child.

Tarasova voiced her anger in April about the relatively contradictory nature of Moscows war slogan, We do not give up on our own.

We dont give up on our own definitely doesnt apply to the Black Sea Fleet, the bereaved mother posted on VKontakte.