Putin appointed the ex-head of the Ukrainian Navy as deputy commander of the Black Sea Fleet

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree in accordance with which he appointed Rear Admiral Denis Berezovsky as deputy commander of the Black Sea Fleet. The document is published on the Kremlin website. Thus, the president approved the previously adopted decision of the Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu.

By the same decree, the president appointed Rear Admiral Igor Smolyak as the head of the Black Sea Higher Naval School named after Nakhimov in Sevastopol. Earlier, Smolyak served as the commander of the 36th division of the surface ships of the Pacific Fleet.

On March 24, in Sevastopol , Shoigu handed Berezovsky a personal number of a Russian soldier and instructed him to act as a deputy commander of the Black Sea Fleet. Appointments for such posts in accordance with the law are approved by the preserve decree. During a visit to Crimea, Shoigu held a working meeting with former military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - commanders of units and institutions who expressed a desire to continue military service in the Russian army. The minister explained that everyone who expressed such a desire will enjoy all social rights within the framework of Russian legislation and will be able to serve in all military districts and in all fleets of the Armed Forces of Russia.

On March 1, by decree of the acting President Alexander Turchinov, Berezovsky was appointed head of the Ukrainian Navy. The next day in Sevastopol, Rear Admiral swore allegiance to the "people of Crimea." After his demarche, he was also removed from office by order of Turchinov. The acting commander of the Ukrainian Navy was appointed Rear Admiral Sergey Gaiduk. The temporary Minister of Defense of Ukraine Igor Tenyukh has been reprimanded.

On March 3, Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Victoria Symar said that a criminal case was instituted against Berezovsky under Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (State Vasya).