A Russian warship allegedly attacked by Ukraine has sunk, according to state media.
The missile cruiser “Moscow” is the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and sank when it was towed back to port during bad weather after an explosion and fire, according to reports.
Earlier, Russia’s Defense Ministry said the Soviet-era ship had been severely damaged by a fire that Ukraine said was the result of its missile strike.
Image: Moscow in Sevastopol, Crimea, on April 7. Photo: Maxar Technologies via AP
The crew of the “Moscow” was evacuated on other ships in the area, the Russian Ministry of Defense said, having previously admitted that it was seriously damaged.
“As a result of the fire on the missile cruiser” Moscow “ammunition was detonated,” said in a comment transmitted by TASS.
The reasons for the fire are being clarified, the ministry added.
It was later said: “The source of the fire in Moscow has been contained. The explosions of ammunition have been stopped.”
Russian authorities have not confirmed reports that the ship was hit by a Ukrainian missile strike and the Pentagon is unable to confirm Ukraine’s allegations.
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3:02 While the mayor of Mariupol remains challenging, Russia is releasing footage of an alleged surrender of Ukrainian troops.
“Symbolic” event from “both sides”
Earlier, Air Marshal Phil Osborne, the former head of UK defense intelligence, told Sky News that the Ukrainian version of events – that the fire was caused by a missile strike – was “more likely” to be true.
The development is “quite symbolic on both sides,” he said, adding that “Moscow” is “quite a significant ship as far as Russia is concerned.”
Assuming the cruiser was indeed hit by a Ukrainian missile, the strike was “less loss of the ship and more demonstration of Ukrainian capabilities,” added Air Marshall Osborn.
The Soviet-era Moscow was put into operation 40 years ago, but has since been refurbished, Mr Osborne said.
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A missile strike could cause the Russians to “stand still”, he said, which could have “real consequences for any potential attack on Odessa”.
Ukraine claims that Neptune’s missions have been used
Ukrainian media reported earlier that two Neptune missiles, which are anti-ship missiles, were used in the attack, but these allegations have not been confirmed independently.
A Ukrainian source told Sky News: “It is burning. “The level of damage is being clarified… It is about 25 nautical miles from Snake Island.”
Other key developments:
Maxim Marchenko, the governor of Odessa, said in the Telegram: “It has been confirmed that today the missile cruiser” Moscow “went exactly where it was sent by our border guards on Snake Island!
“Neptune missiles guarding the Black Sea caused very serious damage to the Russian ship.
“Glory to Ukraine!”
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His comments on Snake Island refer to an incident earlier in the war – the day after the Russian invasion – when Moscow was one of two Russian ships approaching a stretch of land in the Black Sea.
The Russians ordered 13 Ukrainian soldiers defending the island to surrender, but the Ukrainians responded on the radio, telling Moscow and its crew to “leave.”
Ukrainian soldiers were initially thought to have been killed, but the country’s navy later said they had been captured alive by Russia.
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