The cruiser Moskva, flagship of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea, damaged during the offensive against Ukraine, has sunk, announced Thursday evening April 14 the Russian Ministry of Defense.
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Read alsoIn the Black Sea, Russia suffers a snub
“
During the towing of the cruiser Moskva to the port of destination, the ship lost its stability due to hull damage sustained during the fire following the detonation of ammunition.
In rough sea conditions, the ship sank
,” the ministry said, quoted by state agency TASS.
Ukraine claims to have hit it with missiles
This 186-meter long missile ship had been "
severely damaged
" by a fire which caused the explosion of ammunition and its crew of more than 500 men had to be evacuated, announced in the night the Russian ministry of the Defense.
The latter then said Thursday morning that the fire had been contained and that the explosions had stopped.
“
The cruiser Moskva keeps her buoyancy
,” he had said.
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The Ukrainian authorities for their part claimed to have struck with cruise missiles this flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet based in Sevastopol in Crimea.
“
Neptune missiles protecting the Black Sea have caused significant damage to this Russian ship
,” assured the governor of the Odessa region, on the Black Sea, Maxime Marchenko.
His remarks were confirmed by the spokesman for the military administration of this Ukrainian port city, Serguiï Bratchouk.
The decommissioning of this emblematic building, built in 1983 in the USSR, bearing the name of the Russian capital and previously engaged in the Russian campaign in Syria, constitutes a major snub for the Russian army.
