By Brad Lendon, CNN, 14 April 2022.
One of the Russian Navy's warships [Moskva] has sunk in the Black Sea, 50 days into Vladimir Putin's invasion in Ukraine.
"During the towing of the cruiser Moskva to the port of destination, the ship lost its stability due to hull damage received during a fire from the detonation of ammunition. In the conditions of stormy seas, the ship sank," the statement said, according to TASS report on Thursday.
The Moskva is armed with a range of anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles as well as torpedoes and naval guns and close-in missile defense systems.
Conflicting accounts have emerged about the incident.
Ukraine's Operational Command South claimed earlier on Thursday that the Moskva had begun to sink after it was hit Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles.
Russia said a fire broke out on the guided-missile cruiser, causing munitions aboard to explode, inflicting serious damage to the vessel, and forcing the crew of the warship to be evacuated.
The Moskva also poses symbolic significance to Ukraine as it was one of the ships involved in the famous exchange at Snake Island in February, according to Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to a purported audio exchange in late February, as the Russians approached the Ukrainian garrison on Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island, in the Black Sea, a Russian officer said: "This is a military warship. This is a Russian military warship. I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and needless casualties. Otherwise, you will be bombed."
A Ukrainian soldier responded: "Russian warship, go f*** yourself."
This is the second large-sized Russian naval vessel to suffer that fate during Moscow's war with Ukraine. In late March, Ukrainian military had destroyed a Russian landing ship at the port of Berdiansk.
Read more: Russian warship sinks in the Black Sea after Ukraine claims it was hit by a missile
5 thoughts on “The Russian Warship Finally Went… Down!”
Way to go! The Ukrainians are good shooters, or Russian sailors are incompetent and set their own warship on fire? I like either version.
Well said! For the Russians to be that “dumb & sloppy” says a lot about where their heads are! Their Command & Control at sea at least is not up to snuff. NATO warships could really walk right in “under the cover of darkness” and really surprise them!
They certainly brought it on themselves but still saddened by the possible loss of life. We are all sailors regardless of the uniform we wear.
Yes Richard, certainly a large loss of life. I have heard that over 400 sailors were lost along with two tactical nucs! (to be confirmed).
There have been some un-confirmed pics going around of Moskva’s burning after the missile strike and also unconfirmed reports that she may have also carried at least 2 Tactical Nukes as well.