Russia confirms its Black Sea Fleet flagship has sunk

Russia has officially confirmed that the Russian Black Sea Fleet's guided-missile cruiser Moskva sank while being towed to the port of destination.

The news agency RIA Novosti reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

"The Russian Defense Ministry reports that during the towing of the cruiser Moskva to the port of destination, the ship lost its stability due to hull damage received during a fire from the detonation of ammunition. In the conditions of stormy seas, the ship sank," the statement said.

Moscow did not say what caused the fire and detonation of ammunition. At the same time, the Operational Command South of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on April 14 that the Russian Black Sea Fleet's cruiser Moskva was significantly damaged after being hit by a Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missile system.

Other units of the ship's group tried to help, but a storm and a powerful explosion of ammunition overturned the cruiser, and it began to sink in the Black Sea, the command said.