Russian Cruiser Moskva Played ‘Key Role’: UK
London, April 15: The UK on Friday said that Russia’s Slava-class cruiser Moskva served a key role as both a command vessel and air defence node.
“Russia has admitted that the Slava-class cruiser Moskva has sunk. As flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the Moskva served a key role as both a command vessel and air defence node”.
“The Soviet-era vessel was one of only three Slava-class cruisers in the Russian navy. Originally commissioned in 1979, the Moskva had completed an extensive refit designed to improve its capability and only returned to operational status in 2021,” the ministry said.
The UK said with this incident, Russia has now suffered damage to two of its key naval assets since it invaded Ukraine on February 24. “This incident means Russia has now suffered damage to two key naval assets since invading Ukraine, the first being Russia’s Alligator-class landing ship Saratov on 24 March. Both events will likely lead Russia to review its maritime posture in the Black Sea,” the ministry tweeted.
On Thursday, Russia said Moskva was being towed to port when “stormy seas” caused it to sink, according to a ministry message. The missile cruiser “Moskva”, which was damaged due to the detonation of ammunition, sank during towing, the Russian Defence Ministry said. “During the towing of the Moskva cruiser to the port of destination, due to damage to the hull received during the fire from the detonation of ammunition, the ship lost stability. In the conditions of stormy seas, the ship sank,” the military department said.
On the night of April 14, the Ministry of Defence reported that a fire had started on the Moskva cruiser, causing the ammunition to detonate. The crew was completely evacuated.
At the same time, the main missile armament was not damaged, the source of ignition was localized and the ship remained buoyant, the ministry said.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian military officials said they struck the Moskva with a Ukrainian-made Neptune missile – a weapon designed after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, and the naval threat to Ukraine in the Black Sea grew. The 510-crew vessel was a symbol of Russia’s military power, and has led Russia’s naval assault on Ukraine.
