Russia Loses the Cruiser 'Moskva' in the Black Sea

The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed the sinking of the cruiser 'Moskva' (121) this Thursday in the Black Sea. The official Russian version states that an explosion occurred on board last Wednesday night and that the outcome happened while it was being towed under adverse weather conditions towards the port of Sevastopol.

Ukraine, for its part, claims that the ship was hit in an attack by its forces using Neptune anti-ship missiles. U.S. sources give some credibility to the version from the invaded country, according to CNN.

Before the sinking occurred, the crew of nearly five hundred people had been evacuated. According to Russian sources, it is said that an explosion in the ammunition occurred due to a fire of unknown origin declared on board, and the ship was severely damaged.

The cruiser 'Moskva' was the most prominent Russian military ship in the Black Sea. Its powerful armament consisted of a wide range of anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, as well as torpedoes, naval artillery, and advanced domestic electronics. Western military sources estimate that the explanations for the sinking of the Russian flagship indicate "possible deficiencies" either in defense or in damage control and safety procedures.

ISW analysts estimate that this is a minor blow to Russia's offensive capability, as the ship was used for cruise missile attacks on logistics centers and airports in Ukraine. They believe that Russia has ground systems and attack aircraft that can fulfill the same mission as the sunken ship.

If a Ukrainian missile caused the sinking of the cruiser, it would suggest the apparent vulnerability of Russian surface ships and will have some impact on their short-term capability, according to Pentagon sources, who attribute the cruiser with the air defense of Russian forces in the Black Sea.

Photo: George Chernilevsky