Russian Navy Confirms Severe Damage to Black Sea Flagship, Cruiser Moskva, Crew Abandoned Ship

Russian Navy Cruiser Moskva. Photo via Wikimedia Commons

The Russian Navy’s Black Sea flagship has suffered major damage and the crew has abandoned the ship, state media said late Tuesday in reports following Ukrainian claims of hitting the ship with a missile strike.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the mishap on RTS Moskva (121), a ship in the country’s Black Sea Fleet, according to state-run outlet TASS.

The crew of the Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, was severely damaged and the crew abandoned ship, the Russian Defense Ministry told TASS.

A fire broke out on the ship, causing ammunition to detonate, according to TASS. State media did not elaborate on the cause of the fire.

Ukrainian officials claimed that shore-based anti-ship guided missiles hit Moskva which had been operating from the Black Sea Fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea.

https://news.usni.org/2022/04/13/russian-navy-confirms-severe-damage-to-black-sea-cruiser-moskva-crew-abandoned-ship

Forbes is reporting Moskva later sank, but there's no confirmation of that at this time.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

spjennifer · 56-60, T

Apparently a USN P-8A Poseidon out of Germany provided coordinates of the Moskva to the Ukrainian missile battery that hit it, the P-8A's have been patrolling the Black Sea since the start of the invasion by Russia.

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@spjennifer

A Daily Mail article says the P-8 Poseidon was operating out of Romania (makes more sense than Germany), and quotes "The Times." Which "Times"? The New York Times? The London Times? The Moscow Times? The article doesn't say.

Guess we'll have to wait for some clarification.

But we SHOULD be monitoring all Russian naval movenment when they are conducting an invasion against a country bordering NATO.

And if that little bit of info fell into the hands of Ukraine, so be it.

When the British lost track of the German battleship Bismarck after the Battle of the Denmark Strait, it was a U.S. Navy pilot (kept secret at the time) flying a RAF Catalina that located her and the coordinates were quickly given to Admiral James Somerville commanding Force H with the aircraft carrier Ark Royal. A torpedo strike from Ark Royal damaged Bismarck's port rudder and allowed the battleships King George V and Rodney to catch up and sink her.

spjennifer · 56-60, T

@beckyromero I simply meant that it's home base was in Germany, quite possible it was operating at a forward operating base in Romania.

SomeMichGuy · M

@beckyromero If the Daily Mail says "The Times", they mean The Times of London.