You're reading: Newsweek: Putin appoints Crimean commander to head Baltic fleet

Russia has appointed Crimean-born Alexander Nosatov as the new commander of its Baltic Fleet, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on its official TV channel Zvezda.

Nosatov has been interim commander, since his predecessor Viktor Kravchuk was dismissed in June by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, after a scathing review of his efforts to maintain combat-ready troops in one of Russia’s most strategic seaports.

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