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Russian military bloggers, known for their close ties to military and ultranationalist views, are outraged by what they perceive as the mistakes of Russian commanders. They criticize the lack of response from the Russian military command and highlight the bureaucratic inertia in the Russian military apparatus.
According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Sergei Kotov was destroyed by a naval drone, although such drones have been targeted before. Russian bloggers such as Rybar and Dva Mayora on Telegram argue that the ship was not properly equipped to defend itself, reflecting broader issues within the Russian military.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russian commanders are unlikely to improve defenses or listen to crew feedback because of a cultural tendency to cover up mistakes rather than address them. This culture, along with weak commanders, military corruption, and a centralized military system, affected Russia's invasion of Ukraine from its inception.
Despite these setbacks, Ukraine has managed to offset its disadvantages in the Black Sea through ingenuity and reform. It has used maritime drones and long-range missile strikes to force Russian ships to withdraw from Sevastopol in Crimea. Ukraine claims to have damaged a significant portion of Russia's fleet, destroying 25 ships and disabling 15 since the conflict began.
However, Ukraine faces challenges on the ground, including a severe ammunition shortage caused by Republicans in Congress blocking $60 billion in aid. Russia aims to exploit these weaknesses by intensifying its attacks, highlighting the complexities and difficulties of the conflict.