Whether the Moskva, the Russian Navy's flagship for its Black Sea fleet, was hit by Ukrainian cruise missiles (our bet) or an accidental explosion aboard ship (Russia's version), it's a serious blow to Russia's military and prestige. It's either that their ship wasn't properly defended against missile attacks, or its officers and crew are incompetent for letting a fire break out. It adds to the overall poor image of the Russian military, as the Associated Press notes:
"The loss of the ship would be a major military and symbolic defeat for Russia as its troops regroup for a renewed offensive in eastern Ukraine after retreating from much of the north, including the capital.
Russia said a fire aboard the Moskva, a warship that would typically have 500 sailors on board, forced the entire crew to evacuate the vessel. It later said the fire had been contained and that the ship would be towed to port with its guided missile launchers intact.
The ship carries 16 missiles, according to a military analyst, and its removal from combat would greatly reduce Russia’s firepower in the Black Sea. Regardless of the extent of the damage, any attack would represent a major blow to Russian prestige seven weeks into a war that is already widely seen as a historic blunder." (our emphasis)
The 600- plus- foot ship was also involved in the legendary confrontation with Ukrainian forces on Snake Island, who when ordered to surrender their position, responded "Russian ship, go fuck yourself," which adds an air of poetic justice to the conflict.
BONUS: The newest Ukrainian postage stamp memorializes that very same encounter with the Moskva, with the Ukrainian soldier's one-finger salute --
UPDATE: The Russian Defense Ministry now confirms, the Moskva has sunk.
(photo: Thar she blows....up! TASS)
