Categories: International

Russian vessel Moskva has sunk as a result of a ‘Neptune missile strike’ by Ukraine

A picture taken on July 31, 2011 shows the Moskva guided missile cruiser participating in a Russian military Navy Day parade near an important navy base in the Ukrainian town of Sevastopol. Russia's defence ministry on September 24, 2015 said it will hold naval drills in the "east Mediterranean" in September and October, as the West frets over a military buildup by Moscow in Syria. The exercises include three warships from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, including the Saratov landing ship, the Moskva guided missile cruiser and the Smetlivy destroyer, the ministry said in a statement. AFP PHOTO / VASILY MAXIMOV (Photo credit should read VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP via Getty Images)

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.

Russia Ukraine Conflict Explained

KEY POINTS:

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.

BACKGROUND:

Ukrainian military officials stated they hit the Moskva with Ukrainian-made Neptune missiles, a weapon developed in response to Russia’s takeover of Crimea in 2014, which increased the Black Sea naval danger to Ukraine.

The Moskva was built during the Soviet era and entered service in the early 1980s. The ship was built in Mykolaiv, Ukraine’s southernmost city, which has recently been badly attacked by Russia.

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