Against the backdrop of a new round of tense confrontation between the United States and Russia, Russia recently announced a high-level personnel change in the Navy, replacing the current naval commander Korolev with the commander of the Northern Fleet, Admiral Yevmenov, who has served in the Navy for 46 years and has reached retirement age. This change will bring a new leadership of a hawkish faction to the Russian Navy. Yevmenov was the commander of the submarine forces of the Russian Pacific Fleet and was later promoted to commander of the Northern Fleet in 2016, leading the four fleets of the North, Pacific, Baltic and Black Seas. Since he is only 57 years old, he is considered one of the potential successors of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Yevmenov is an expert in the submarine forces, having served on nuclear submarines for many years, with an excellent understanding of nuclear submarine technology and tactics. Under his leadership, Russia maintained its world leadership in the field of nuclear submarines. He also took an active part in the development of a new generation of nuclear submarines, playing a key role in the design and construction of new nuclear submarines. In addition, he supported the destruction of two aging Kirov-class nuclear-powered cruisers, arguing that the Russian Navy no longer needs to maintain a large, aging surface fleet, but should devote limited resources to the development and construction of new submarines.
Military experts commented that Yevmenov represents a new generation of leaders of the Russian Navy, who have undergone drastic changes in military technology in the process of growing up and have a deep understanding and sensitivity to cutting-edge technologies. Due to the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West, they also represent a tough stance on the Russian army, advocating a more resolute approach to Western "provocations". The arrival of a new generation of military leadership, such as Yevmenov, will make the Russian army an even more intractable adversary for NATO.