US BELIEVES SUNK MOSKVA WARSHIP HIT BY TWO UKRAINIAN MISSILES

Fri 15 April 2022:

The US now believes the sunken Russian missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, was hit by two Ukrainian missiles, according to a senior Pentagon official.

“We assess that they hit it with two Neptunes,” the official said, referring to Ukrainian anti-ship cruise missiles.

He said the strikes were believed to have caused casualties, but that it was “difficult to assess how many,” adding that the United States had observed survivors being recovered by other Russian vessels in the area.

The senior official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said these were Neptune anti-ship missiles. The US believes there were Russian casualties, although numbers are unclear, the official added.

It sank Thursday after an explosion and fire that Ukraine claimed was caused by a missile strike — while Russia said damage caused by exploding ammunition had caused the ship to “lose its balance” as it was being towed to port.

“It’s a big blow symbolically,” the Pentagon official said. “There is a pride aspect.”

Russian news agencies cited the defense ministry on Thursday as saying that the Moskva sunk in stormy seas while it was being towed to port after what Moscow said was a fire and explosions involving ammunition stowed onboard.

Ukraine however said it launched a missile strike on the Moskva from the coast, which ripped open the iconic Soviet-era ship

Russia’s Moskva warship was hit by two Ukrainian missiles before it sank in the Black Sea, a senior Pentagon official said Friday, calling it a “big blow” for Moscow.