Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship engulfed in fire and sunk... Ukraine claims "sunk by missile"

Destroyer 'Moskva' Sinks... "Morale Likely to Break"
Russian Defense Ministry Announces "Cause Unknown Fire" Only

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Russian cruiser "Moskva," the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and a symbol of the Russian military during the invasion of Ukraine, is reported to have sunk due to a fire. While the Ukrainian military claims it was sunk by their missile attack, the Russian side explains that it was caused by an unexplained fire. If the Ukrainian claim proves true, it is expected to have a significant impact on the morale of the Russian forces.

According to AFP on the 13th (local time), the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Moskva cruiser, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, sank in the Black Sea due to a fire. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated, "An unexplained fire caused ammunition to explode, severely damaging the ship, and all 510 crew members evacuated," adding, "The cause of the fire is under investigation."

Although the Russian side described it as an unexplained fire, the Ukrainian side claims it was sunk by their missile attack. Maksym Marchenko, governor of Odesa Oblast, posted on his Telegram, "Two Neptune anti-ship missiles launched by the Ukrainian military caused significant damage to the Moskva." According to CNN, due to adverse weather conditions over the Black Sea, the exact cause of the Moskva fire has not been verified.

If the Ukrainian claim of sinking is confirmed, analyses suggest that the morale of the Russian military will be greatly affected. According to Bloomberg, the Moskva was not only the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet but also regarded as a symbol of victory for the Russian military since the beginning of the conflict. It participated in the assault on Zmiinyi Island, where all Ukrainian border guards were reportedly killed, and has been notoriously involved in continuous offensives on the Black Sea front.

Kristo Grozev of the UK investigative media outlet Bellingcat tweeted on the same day, "The Moskva was not only the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet but also a matter of pride," adding, "I cannot imagine how the Russian government will convey this incident to the Russian people."