Admiral Nakhimov
The Soviet government formed a commission of inquiry to investigate the disaster. It determined that both Captain Markov of "Admiral Nakhimov" and Captain Tkachenko of "Pyotr Vasev" had violated navigational safety rules. Despite repeated orders to let "Admiral Nakhimov" pass, Tkachenko refused to slow his ship and only reported the accident 40 minutes after it occurred. Captain Markov was absent from the bridge. The inquiry took place in 1987 in Odessa. Both Captains Markov and Tkachenko were found guilty of criminal negligence and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Both were released in 1992.