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Shop NowSources from both sides of the Ukraine conflict have confirmed that the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet has suffered extensive damage from an explosion. The guided-missile cruiser Moskva, one of the most powerful warships in the Black Sea, is a powerful naval asset and an important symbolic representative of Russian naval strength. Its loss could be a disaster for Russian morale ahead of the expected Donbass offensive.
Damage to Black Sea Fleet flagship confirmed
Ukraine initially claimed that it had struck the Moskva with a Neptune anti-ship missile, causing the vessel to capsize and sink after an ensuing fire caused a detonation of ammunition.
Russia’s initial confirmation only acknowledged that there had been a fire and an explosion necessitating the evacuation of the 500 man crew.
The situation was clarified somewhat when Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby commented on the state of the ship early on April 14.
Kirby confirmed that there had been an explosion on the Moskva and claimed that the United States is not yet able to say what caused the detonation.
He added that the ship did not, in fact, sink as Ukraine had claimed. Moskva is reportedly still afloat and moving towards the naval base at Sevastopol under her own power.
This means that damage to the ship was not as severe as initial Ukrainian and Russian statements had implied, though Russia still says that there is extensive damage and that most of the crew has been distributed to other ships of the Black Sea Fleet.
Ukraine claims credit for Moskva explosion
Ukraine was quick to claim credit for the explosion on the flagship but the Pentagon appeared to be hesitant to offer confirmation that Ukraine was responsible.
The ship could have struck a mine; Ukrainian mines placed along the Black Sea coast were reportedly carried away by a storm last month and some may still be drifting .
Either way this is a significant victory for the Ukrainians, though they themselves have no navy to speak of so there is not much that can be done to exploit the situation.
The most important effect of the damage to the Moskva is the fact that any Russian amphibious assault on Odessa would now lack a major source of fire support and would thus be more difficult.
Ukraine has been forced to keep troops in the Odessa area to defend against a potential landing. If that landing is now significantly less likely those forces can be freed up to fight elsewhere .
If the Russian flagship is still afloat and returning to Sevastopol then it can likely be saved and repaired, but not in time to have any impact on the war in the near future or on the decisive battle taking shape in the Donbass.
