In 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sokolov, citing his alleged war crimes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
[2][3] After completing the courses at the N. G. Kuznetsov Naval Academy in 1998 Sokolov became head of the operational management department at the Pacific Fleet's headquarters, followed by chief of staff and then commander of a brigade of surface ships.
[4] He was then once more on secondment for training purposes, studying at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces from September 2004 until July 2006, before again returning to the Pacific Fleet, this time in the post of deputy commander of the Primorsky Flotilla from August that year.
In mid-2016 Sokolov was assigned to command a detachment of the Northern Fleet, based around the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and the battlecruiser Pyotr Velikiy, for operations off the coast of Syria during the Russian intervention there.
[7] In September 2018 Sokolov took a leading role in the Ocean Shield exercises, which for the first time in Russia's modern history were held in the Mediterranean Sea.
All four Russian fleets, as well as the Caspian Flotilla, were represented by a total of 25 ships and vessels, including two submarines, with more than three dozen aircraft and helicopters.
[2][4] It was announced on 17 August 2022 by RIA Novosti that Sokolov replaced Igor Osipov as commander of the Black Sea Fleet (BSF).
This came after the latter's loss to the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine of the fleet's flagship, the cruiser Moskva, and the bombardment of the Crimean airfield of Saky (about 70 kilometers north of Sevastopol).
[11][12][13][14] Following these claims, Sokolov was shown on Russian state television attending a defence leaders' meeting remotely the day after the attack.
[17] According to Radio Free Europe journalist Mark Krutov a second award ceremony for the football team was held on 27 September, this time attended by Sokolov.
[18] On 15 February 2024, prominent Russian telegram channels including Rybar reported that Sokolov had been replaced as commander of the Black Sea Fleet.
Under Sokolov, a significant portion of the Black Sea Fleet had been destroyed by Ukraine, including the large landing ship Tsezar Kunikov on 14 February.