Russian Warship Moskva Sinks In Black Sea, After Ukraine Claimed Missile Strike Damaged Ship

Over 500 crew members were evacuated safely to other ships after the fire broke out, reported AFP.

Russian warship Moskva (File Image AFP)

New Delhi: Russian defence ministry Thursday said that the guided missile cruiser Moskva has sunk in the Black Sea after being damaged due to fire during military operations in Ukraine, reported news agency AFP.

"While being towed ... towards the destination port, the vessel lost its balance due to damage sustained in the hull as fire broke out after ammunition exploded. Given the choppy seas, the vessel sank," reported AFP, citing the state news agency TASS, which quoted the Russian defence ministry.

Earlier the ministry had claimed to have doused the fire and said that the ship was safe and would remain afloat. It also said the cause of the fire would be determined .

Over 500 crew members were evacuated safely to other ships after the fire broke out, reported AFP.

Ukraine claimed Thursday that it had destroyed the Russian Black Sea fleet — Moskva — in a missile strike. 

Maksym Marchenko, the governor of Ukraine's Odesa state made the claims in a Telegram post and said, "Neptune missiles guarding the Black Sea caused very serious damage,"

Maksym Marchenko, head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, writes:

"It has been confirmed that the missile cruiser "Moskva" today went exactly where it was sent by our border guards on Snake Island!
Neptune missiles … caused very serious damage to the Russian ship." pic.twitter.com/xBzYuQ3m5I

— Michael MacKay (@mhmck) April 13, 2022

Russia's defense ministry, however, denied the claims made by Ukraine and said it was a fire on the cruiser that caused ammunition to blow up. Interfax agency reported that the Russian defence ministry said the explosion on Moskva was caused due to an on-board incident. 

"As the result of a fire on the Moskva missile cruiser, ammunition detonated," said the Russian defence ministry after the incident happened.