Russia claims that the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet was severely damaged after an explosion that Ukraine claims was the result of a missile strike.
Russia’s Defense Ministry says a fire aboard the missile cruiser Moscow has caused ammunition to detonate and explode.
But Maxim Marchenko, Ukraine’s governor of the region around the Black Sea port of Odessa, said Ukrainian forces had hit the cruiser with two missiles and caused “serious damage”.
Satellite view of Sevastopol and the ship Moscow in the far left corner, pictured April 10 Credit: Maxar Technologies
Ukrainian authorities later said the ship was sunk, describing it as a “loud slap” to Moscow’s forces.
Moscow said the causes of the fire were “being established” – and did not confirm that it had been hit by Ukraine, later adding that the fire had been contained and ammunition explosions had been stopped.
The ministry said the entire Moscow crew had been evacuated.
The cruiser, which carries 16 missiles, typically has about 500 officers and crew on board, so removing it from combat would significantly reduce Russia’s firepower in the Black Sea.
Satellite images show Moscow cruiser in Crimea’s Black Sea port of Crimea on April 7, days before it was damaged Credit: Maxar Technologies
But despite Ukraine’s claims that the ship had sunk, Russia’s defense ministry said the ship remained afloat and would be towed to port, adding: “The main missile weapons have not been damaged.”
ITV News is not yet able to independently verify the allegations of any of the parties.
There are two explanations for what happened – one humiliating for Russia, the other very humiliating for Russia, according to Global Security editor Rohit Kachroo
“Moscow” is the same ship that the Ukrainians are defending Snake Island off the south coast, which was told to leave after the Russians demanded surrender.
Officials said the soldiers – who made headlines around the world – were killed moments after their provocative announcement.
But the group was actually taken prisoner, said Ukrainian officials, who were later released as part of an exchange of prisoners with Russian forces.
Russia says a crew of 500 people aboard the cruiser Moscow has been evacuated. Pictured here on April 10 Credit: Maxar Technologies
Satellite images show the cruiser “Moscow” in and near the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, in the Crimea, days before it was damaged, on April 7 and 10, according to Maxar Technologies.
The cruiser Moscow is the second major Russian ship known to have suffered serious damage since Moscow invaded Ukraine after the tanker Orsk was struck and set on fire in the Sea of Azov in late March.
Ukraine said it had destroyed a Russian ship capable of carrying 20 tanks, 45 armored vehicles and 400 troops in the occupied port city of Berdyansk, and was a “huge target”.
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Military analyst Oleg Zhdanov said the damage to Moscow significantly boosted the morale of Ukrainian forces on the eve of a new wave of Russian offensives in Donbass.
The UK’s Defense Ministry has warned that a speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday – during which he reiterated his statement that he had launched a “special military operation” against Ukraine to protect Russia – stressed that his focus remains firmly on Eastern Ukraine.
It says Russia is attacking Ukrainian forces in the Donbass region to prepare for a new attack, and that the cities of Kramatorsk and Konstantinovka are likely to be targeted for similar levels of violence observed in other urban centers during the invasion. .
The defense ministry said: “The combination of widespread missile and artillery strikes and efforts to concentrate offensive forces is a return to traditional Russian military doctrine.
“However, this will require significant levels of strength. “Ukraine’s ongoing defense of Mariupol currently involves a significant number of Russian troops and equipment.”
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said on Thursday that there was still a “permanent threat” that Russia would use missile weapons across Ukraine.
Damaged tank in the foundation pit for a house under construction in Mariupol Credit: AP
Armed Forces spokesman Alexander Shputun said at a daily briefing that Russia continues to launch “systematic strikes against military and civilian infrastructure” in Kharkov, northeastern Zaporozhye, southeastern and eastern Donetsk.
“The enemy continues to build an aviation group near the eastern border of our country, strengthen artillery units and optimize existing control, intelligence and medical security systems. There is a constant threat of the use of missile weapons by the enemy throughout the territory. of Ukraine, “he said.
Mr Sputun also said Russia was trying to forcibly mobilize in the “temporarily occupied territories” in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
“In the town of Gorlovka there are daily tours of houses and multi-storey residential buildings,” he added.
Locals cook sitting at the entrance to their damaged apartment in Mariupol Credit: AP
He said heavy fighting continued in the battered city of Mariupol in the Donetsk region, where the mayor told him that more than 20,000 civilians had been killed and at least one war crime had been confirmed by European experts.
The reported Neptune cruise missile strike comes in the same week, with President Joe Biden calling Russia’s actions in Ukraine a “genocide” and approving $ 800 million (£ 609 million) in new military aid to Kyiv, saying Western weapons have supported Ukraine fighting so far and “we can not rest now.”
Ammunition includes artillery systems, armored personnel carriers and helicopters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “sincerely grateful” to the United States for the new round of military aid, and that he and President Biden had discussed even tougher sanctions against Moscow over the phone, as well as efforts to bring Russian soldiers to justice. committed war crimes in Ukraine.
In his daily late-night address to the nation, Mr Zelenski also said he was grateful for the visit of the presidents of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia on Wednesday.
He said that these leaders “helped us from day one, those who did not hesitate to give us weapons, those who did not doubt whether to impose sanctions.”
Mr Zelensky also said work to clear tens of thousands of unexploded ordnance, mines and cables left in northern Ukraine by retreating Russians was continuing.
In the latest in a series of senior European politicians taking the trip to show support for Ukraine, Ireland’s foreign minister travels to Kyiv on Thursday and plans to discuss how Ireland can “help Ukraine apply for EU membership.” The EU. “
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