VLADIMIR Putin is being forced to evacuate his Black Sea naval command from Crimea after a Ukrainian drone blitz.
The humiliating move to flee Sevastopol comes as enemy drones wreaked havoc in Russia overnight.
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Vladimir Putin has been forced to relocated his fleet from Sevastopol Credit: AFP
Ukraine has increasingly been targeting Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Credit: East2West
Putin has already moved some of his ships further east to the port of Novorossiysk, but pro-Ukraine group ATESH says the entire fleet is now being forced to retreat.
The evacuation follows a Ukrainian strike on the Black Sea Fleet’s aviation headquarters on May 27, and other earlier attacks.
ATESH said: “Since then, attacks on the peninsula have only intensified, and the logistical situation for the occupiers in Crimea has drastically worsened.”
“Plans are being worked out in the headquarters structures of the Russian Black Sea Fleet to relocate the remaining command structures from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk.”
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One of Russia’s largest fuel storage facilities was struck by a Ukrainian drone Credit: East2West
A mystery strike struck a hotel cafe 25 miles from Putin’s palace Credit: East2West
The mood among Russian high command is reportedly low as they realised it was too “costly and risky” to stay in Sevastopol.
Some sources suggest around 35 per cent of the Black Sea Fleet’s major combat vessels have been destroyed since the start of the war.
In the blitz of overnight strikes, Ukraine hit the Azot plant in Novomoskovsk – the country’s largest producer of ammonia and nitrogen fertilisers.
In another strike, one of Russia’s largest fuel storage facilities in the Yaroslavl region was ignited by a Ukrainian attack.
Ukraine also hit the Vyazma railway depot in Smolensk, and carried out attacks on Oryol.
Due to Ukrainian strikes, Russia is already suffering chronic shortages of petrol and diesel with rationing in some places.
This comes after opposition lawmakers warned Russia was “on the brink of a social explosion” and should end its disastrous war with Ukraine immediately.
Vyacheslav Markhayev urged Vladimir Putin and his ruling caste to “come to their senses” before the country is plunged into “total chaos”.
The 71-year-old also blasted Kremlin bosses for sending young Russian men to die on the frontline fighting Putin’s war.
He said: “We need a clear, public plan to end the special military operation, based on Russia’s national interests.
“The time for illusions has passed.
“The country is on the brink of a social explosion, and full responsibility for this will lie with the irremovable authorities.”
In a blistering attack, Markhayev accused the Russian despot of damaging the country in the same way as a foreign invader.
“What would an external enemy do if it captured Russia? It would seize resources, loot industry, drive up tariffs and build mansions for itself,” he said.
“But no invasion took place – the authorities managed to do all this themselves, more effectively than any aggressor.”
He continued: “If this situation continues, a social explosion and total chaos will become more likely.
“The West will inevitably take advantage of this to finish off what remains of Russian statehood.”
The under-pressure Kremlin boss was also forced to scale back Russia Day celebrations as Ukraine gained the upper hand in the bitter conflict.
