According to a ministry message, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Moskva, was being hauled to port when it sank due to stormy waves. The 510-crew missile cruiser, which led Russia’s naval attack on Ukraine, was a symbol of the country’s military might.
Kyiv claims that its rockets struck the cruiser. According to the United States, it was also targeted by Ukrainian missiles. Moscow has denied any attack and claims the ship sank due to a fire.
According to Russia, the conflagration caused the warship’s ammunition to explode, and the whole crew was eventually evacuated to adjacent Russian boats in the Black Sea. After first stating that the battleship was floating, the Russian defence ministry revealed late Thursday that the Moskva had been lost. The 12,490-tonne warship is the largest Russian warship sunk in combat since WWII.
