The Pentagon has confirmed that a Ukrainian missile strike did lead to the sinking of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva. Russian state news RIA Novosti, as well as the Russian Ministry of Defense, have also put out a new report admitting that some crew onboard the Moskva was indeed killed.
According to the Pentagon, a Ukrainian missile strike caused explosions, as well as a fire aboard the Moskva missile cruiser, and said that it had sunk as it was being towed to port in order to receive repairs.
Ukrainian officials had earlier claimed that they launched two Neptune missiles at the Moskva but Russia denied this and said that a fire had erupted and ignited ammunition on board the ship. Russian officials did not address how the fire had started, however.
A U.S. official had told reporters that they believed that the missile strikes had caused casualties. Russia has now confirmed that there were in fact some casualties on board.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that a Russian serviceman that had been aboard the missile cruiser died while attempting to put the fire out and that 27 crew members had gone missing.
The Russian Ministry of Defense report stated, "The remaining 396 crew members were evacuated from the cruiser to the ships of the Black Sea Fleet in the area and taken to Sevastopol".
RIA Novosti reported that interviews were carried out with the living crew members, "during which a vast majority of officers, midshipmen, and contract service sailors wanted to continue serving on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet".
The Russian account of what happened as per RIA Novosti was as follows, "On the night of April 14, the Ministry of Defense 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. However, she then sank while being towed in a storm to her destination port".
According to the Pentagon, a Ukrainian missile strike caused explosions, as well as a fire aboard the Moskva missile cruiser, and said that it had sunk as it was being towed to port in order to receive repairs.
Ukrainian officials had earlier claimed that they launched two Neptune missiles at the Moskva but Russia denied this and said that a fire had erupted and ignited ammunition on board the ship. Russian officials did not address how the fire had started, however.
A U.S. official had told reporters that they believed that the missile strikes had caused casualties. Russia has now confirmed that there were in fact some casualties on board.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that a Russian serviceman that had been aboard the missile cruiser died while attempting to put the fire out and that 27 crew members had gone missing.
The Russian Ministry of Defense report stated, "The remaining 396 crew members were evacuated from the cruiser to the ships of the Black Sea Fleet in the area and taken to Sevastopol".
RIA Novosti reported that interviews were carried out with the living crew members, "during which a vast majority of officers, midshipmen, and contract service sailors wanted to continue serving on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet".
The Russian account of what happened as per RIA Novosti was as follows, "On the night of April 14, the Ministry of Defense 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. However, she then sank while being towed in a storm to her destination port".
