Sergei Pinchuk

Sergei Mikhailovich Pinchuk (; born 26 July 1971) is an officer of the Russian Navy. He currently holds the rank of admiral, and is commander in chief of the Black Sea Fleet.

Career Pinchuk was born on 26 July 1971 in Sevastopol, then part of the Ukrainian SSR, in the Soviet Union. His father, Mikhail Fedorovich Pinchuk, was also a naval officer, who commanded the Kynda-class cruiser Groznyy, and served as the deputy commander of the Baltic Fleet for rear services, reaching the rank of kontr-admiral during his career. Sergei attended the Nakhimov Naval School in Saint Petersburg, graduating in 1988 and entering the Nakhimov Black Sea Higher Naval School in Sevastopol.

Pinchuk's initial service as an officer was spent with the Baltic Fleet, where from 1993 he commanded the anti-aircraft missile battery aboard the fleet's flagship, the Sovremenny-class destroyer Nastoychivy. On 18 February 2021 he was promoted to the rank of vice-admiral. On 9 May 2021 he was appointed deputy commander in chief of the Black Sea Fleet.

Black Sea Fleet commander On 15 February 2024, prominent Russian telegram channels including Rybar reported that the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Viktor Sokolov, had been replaced. Under Solokov, a significant portion of the Black Sea Fleet had been destroyed by Ukraine, including the large landing ship Tsezar Kunikov on 14 February. The Russian milbloggers speculated that the replacement was due to these losses. It is reported that Sergey Pinchuk will take over command of the Black Sea Fleet. He was appointed acting commander of the Black Sea Fleet on 15 February 2024, and then confirmed as commander on 2 April. He was promoted to the rank of admiral on 21 February 2025.

Personal life Over his career Sergei Pinchuk has been awarded various departmental orders and medals, including the Order of Military Merit in 2009.

In February 2022, Pinchuk was added to the European Union sanctions list for being "responsible for actively supporting and implementing actions and policies that undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine as well as the stability or security in Ukraine."