The Moskva, a Russian cruiser named in honor of the country’s capital and the pride of the country’s Black Sea fleet, has sunk after a fire broke out aboard the ship. The Soviet-era warship saw action in hostilities in Georgia, Syria, and Ukraine, as well as in joint scientific research with the United States during peacetime. It was an ignominious end for a ship that had been dubbed the Slava, or ‘Glory,’ at the time of its launch.
After being damaged during Russia’s military action in Ukraine, the guided-missile cruiser Moskva has sunk in the Black Sea, according to the Russian defense ministry, which announced the sinking late Thursday.
The missile cruiser, which carried 510 crew members, served as a symbol of Russian military strength. The Russian missile cruiser Moskva has been at the forefront of Russia’s naval operations throughout the seven-week battle.
In a statement, Russia’s defense ministry stated that the explosion aboard the warship was caused by bursting munitions and that the subsequent damage had caused the vessel to “lose its equilibrium” while it was being towed to port.
On the Ukrainian side, military spokesperson Sergey Bratchuk stated the ship had been damaged by Neptune cruise missiles fired from the country’s territory.
According to Russian media reports, the ship, which normally has 500 sailors on board, was forced to evacuate due to fires, which prompted the whole crew to flee. It subsequently said that the wildfire had been brought under control.
The Moskva was capable of transporting 16 long-range cruise missiles, and her decommissioning diminishes Russia’s offensive capability in the Black Sea. It also serves as a blow to Moscow’s reputation during a conflict that is largely seen as a historical disaster.
However, American officials were unable to determine if Ukrainian Neptune missiles were to blame for the ship’s sinking, which they termed a “major blow.”
In an interview with CNN, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby stated that “it’s very probable and possible that [Ukraine] did in fact strike this with a Neptune missile or perhaps more.”
The Moskva was originally constructed during the Soviet era and entered service in the early 1980s. However, the tanker was really birthed in the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, which has been brutally bombarded by Russian aircraft in recent days.
Moscow previously used the guided-missile cruiser in the Syria crisis, providing naval support to Russian personnel stationed there.
It was equipped with 16 Vulkan anti-ship missiles and a variety of anti-submarine and mine-torpedo armaments, according to reports.
According to intelligence specialist Justin Crump, the Moskva’s primary mission was to provide air defense assistance to other ships in Russia’s Black Sea fleet.
Admiral Lord West, a former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, stated that in addition to being a military setback, the vessel’s loss was “very humiliating.”
“This has a significant impact,” Lord West told BBC Radio 4’s PM just before the Moskva was confirmed to have sunk.
“Putin is a naval buff. When he took command, the first aspect of the former Soviet forces on which he concentrated his efforts was the navy. He’s always had a fondness for it.”
It is Russia’s second significant warship to be lost since the assault began. In March, a Ukrainian airstrike damaged the Saratov landing ship in Berdyansk, a Ukrainian port on the Sea of Azov controlled by Russia.
Published By: Aman Gupta
Edited By: Vanshika Sahu
