Mystery is growing over the fate of Vladimir Putin’s Black Fleet chief, Admiral Igor Osipov, who has ‘not been seen alive’ since the sinking of the Moskva warship one month ago.

There are now suspicions that the commander was on board the vessel when it was hit by Ukrainian Neptune missiles, say Kyiv sources.

Initially Ukraine claimed that the admiral was detained amid fury from Putin over the cruiser’s sinking.

Other claims were that he had been suspended.

This was never confirmed by Russian officials who this week insisted he was at his ‘combat post’ but ‘not in the mood’ to face the public.

Osipov, 49, was conspicuously absent from the Red Square Victory Day parade on Monday, which he would routinely be expected to attend.