After strenuous attempts to explain the current situation, the Kremlin finally admitted on Thursday that the Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, had sunk. The cruiser is not only a one-off production, Russia is also currently unable to bring naval reinforcements to the region by sea – this threatens to fail the attack strategy.
Military experts are already talking about one of the most successful attacks in modern naval history. The Moskva is said to have been hit by the largest warship since World War II. Weighing 12,490 tons, she was larger than the Argentine General Belgrano, which was sunk by the Royal Navy in 1982.
US talks about ‘big deal’
Aside from the symbolism of the Russian loss, it also means massive military damage to Moscow. For example, former US military commander Frederick B. Hodges spoke of a “big deal” that could stop Russia from attacking Ukraine with landing operations from the sea.
Ship was a one off production
After all, the Moskva, built in Mykolayiv, Ukraine in 1979, has not only served as a crucial platform for air defense and missile fire against land targets – it is also the only ship of its class built.
In addition, it is currently not possible for Russia to send warships to Ukraine by sea, because Turkey has now closed the Bosphorus to military traffic.
Doubts about Russia’s statements
The exact circumstances of how the ship was disabled remain unclear. While Ukraine says it was set ablaze by Neptune anti-ship missiles, Moscow insists the flagship lost its “stability” after an attempt to tow it after an ammunition on board exploded in rough seas.
However, according to meteorologists, there was no storm at the site, but force four (a “moderate breeze”), with gusts up to force six.
Ukraine reports ‘significant losses’
In addition, Ukraine reported further successes against the invaders on Thursday. Eight Russian attacks in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk were repulsed. In addition, it was possible to strengthen the defenses of the southern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih. The front was pushed 40 to 50 kilometers from the city, regional army chief Olexander Wilkul said, according to the Ukrinform agency.
For this, several places in the south of Ukraine were liberated. Paratroopers from Lviv inflicted “significant losses” on the enemy, after which the occupiers withdrew, Ukrinform reported Thursday, citing the army.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
