Vice-Admiral Korolev
Northern Fleet Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, Vice-Admiral Vladimir Ivanovich Korolev (Королёв or kor-ol-YOV) will replace current Black Sea Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Kletskov when he turns 55 in August, according to a ‘highly placed’ RIA Novosti source in the Navy Main Staff.
Rumors to this effect have been around. In early June, Rupor.info cited an Interfaks story on this. But Kletskov deputy Vice-Admiral Sergey Menyaylo was not ruled out as a possible successor.
The RIA Novosti source claimed Kletskov was already on leave, and Korolev participated in last week’s talks between Russian Defense Minister Serdyukov and his Ukrainian counterpart in Crimea.
Korolev looks to be a career Northern Fleet submariner.
Russian Defense Policy 