After the sinking of the Russian guided-missile cruiser Moskva, it seems clear to naval experts that the Russian navy has criminally underestimated the capabilities of the Ukrainian defenders. A cruiser operates in the open sea and not in coastal waters – there the Moskva was an “easy target”, according to Major General Bruno Hofbauer, head of basic planning at the Ministry of Defence.
Ships like the Moskva would be primarily intended to set up an air defense shield for aircraft carriers, but would be a rewarding and easy target close to the coast, the naval expert told the Upper Austrian News on Saturday. Missiles of the “Neptun” system, which, according to Ukrainian data, hit the ship, allowed only a very short reaction time on board. With a visibility of maybe 30 kilometers to the horizon and a flight speed of the rockets of 800 to 900 km/h, about 30 to 40 seconds were left.
The Moskva did have an automatic “closest defense system”, but the Russians didn’t turn it on or it failed.
“Big blow to self-esteem”
In any case, the Ukrainians had dealt a “huge blow to Russian self-esteem, but also in a strategic sense,” Hofbauer said. The “flagship” of the Black Sea fleet has been disabled, and at the same time, Russia’s military capacity has been reduced. Hofbauer believes that an amphibious landing operation near the port city of Odessa is out of the question in the near future – after all, the Ukrainians may have built a mine belt near the coast.
After the loss of the lone cruiser Moskva, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has six submarines, five frigates, 35 surveillance and coastal defense ships and ten amphibious transport ships. The Black Sea Fleet also includes approximately 25,000 Marines. In addition, the Russians have the Northern Fleet (with two cruisers), the Pacific Fleet (with one cruiser) and the Baltic Fleet.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
