The pride of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the missile cruiser Moskva, sank under the sea last week after an explosion and fire. The first images of the spectacular incident are now circulating and various versions of the fall have been circulated throughout Ukraine and Russia. A tall column of smoke can be seen – the burning ship also appears to be tilted. Observers speculate that it may even show where the cruiser was hit by missiles.
The sinking of the Moskva was hailed as a triumph by Ukraine: Kiev reported that the Russian warship was hit by two “Neptune” missiles. Russia had a very different explanation for the loss of the most important ship in its Black Sea fleet. Ammunition exploded on board, causing a fire. When he tried to tow the cruiser into a harbor, he eventually lost his balance.
In any case, the incident was spectacular: no warship of this size has sunk since World War II. The symbolic significance of the 187-meter-long ship was also enormous for Moscow. It was also repeatedly used for diplomatic purposes.
Do you see rocket hits in the photo?
The new images can now help clarify which of the two versions is true. There are two large, dark spots on the port side that could be from the alleged missile strikes, social media speculation has been saying. In addition, one photo shows fountains with extinguishing water, which could mean that the crew of the Moskva could still take emergency measures after the fire broke out.
No storm visible in photo of burning Moskva
Also interesting: the sea is very calm in the photo – there are no high waves or a storm to be seen. Moscow had claimed heavy seas were partly responsible for the sinking of the cruiser as it was towed.
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.
