Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Officials on Sunday (March 20) have revealed that a deputy commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet was killed in combat in the besieged port city of Mariupol. The governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev said on Telegram: "Captain 1st Rank Andrei Nikolayevich Paly was killed in the fighting to liberate Mariupol from Ukrainian Nazis." Razvozhayev added that Paly was an "open and decent person" and "enjoyed great authority in the fleet." ALSO READ | Zelensky signs decree to combine national TV channels into one platform Although, media reports have stated that the Russian officials have just confirmed the news as Ukraine had claimed it killed Paly earlier. For the unversed, Sevastopol is a port city in Crimea and the base of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Crimea was annexed by Moscow from Ukraine in 2014. Paly's death was also confirmed in the Russian upper parliamentary house by Yekaterina Altabaeva, who is the lawmaker of Sevastopol. ALSO READ | 'Go Home': Ukrainian protesters confront Russian military vehicles in Kherson "Sevastopol has suffered a heavy, irreparable loss," Altabaeva said on Telegram, adding that Paly had died during "battles for the liberation of Mariupol from Nazis". The exact date of Paly's death has not been revealed and there was no immediate confirmation from Russia's defence ministry. Russia, which has been conducting a military operation in Ukraine since February 24, has insisted that its neighbour never join NATO, and has also called for its "demilitarisation" and "denazification". WATCH | Zelensky compares Russian invasion to Nazi Germany during his address in front of Israeli lawmakers ×

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Senior Russian naval officer killed in Mariupol, officials confirm death

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Russia-Ukraine conflict: Senior Russian naval officer killed in Mariupol, officials confirm death