Moskva collapsed as it was being towed to the port in a turbulent sea following an explosion of ammunition that caused a fire, according to the Kremlin. Ukraine said it had hit the ship with rockets fired from the coast, but Russia did not confirm the attack. The crew of more than 500 people was evacuated, said the Russian Ministry of Defense. Explosions were heard in Kyiv and other cities after the sinking of the ship. Earlier on Friday, Russia claimed to have hit a factory in the capital that manufactures and repairs anti-ship missiles. Russia’s Defense Ministry has said it will step up attacks in Kyiv in response to alleged Ukrainian military “diversions” on its territory. He accused Ukraine of injuring seven people and causing damage to about 100 residential buildings in air raids in Bryansk, an area bordering Ukraine. Another Russian border area also reported bombing on Thursday. Ukrainian officials have not confirmed targets in Russia, and reports from Russian authorities could not be independently verified. Live updates – Russia “digs graves in Mariupol” In other news: • President Zelensky praises Ukrainians for surviving 50 days of war • Advocate General of International Criminal Court calls Ukraine ‘crime scene’ • Putin warns of ‘further consequences’ for West if replaced Russian oil • UK sanctions close two oligarchs to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich Russia is “setting up operations” in view of Donbas’s push Air raid sirens were falling across much of Ukraine on Friday night. In addition to Kyiv, explosions were heard in the southern city of Kherson, in the eastern city of Kharkiv and in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk. The Ukrainian capital gradually showed some signs of pre-war life as Russian troops failed to occupy the city and retreated to focus on a concentrated offensive in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Kremlin continues to mobilize for a new offensive in eastern Ukraine. Additional equipment has reached the northern Donbass region and western Russia, according to a senior U.S. defense official. Speaking on Thursday, the official said Russia had “formed the operations” but that the new attack had not yet begun. Further south, the besieged city of Mariupol remains controversial between defenders and Russian forces. Russia’s navy has also moved further south after the sinking of Moskva, the US official added. Image: A torn flag in front of a ruined apartment building in Mariupol Moscow sank into “stormy seas” The sinking of the largest Russian ship in the war is a significant loss, but the Kremlin has not recognized any Ukrainian attack. “During the towing of the Moskva cruiser at the port of destination, the ship lost stability due to damage to the hull suffered during the fire from the ammunition explosion,” the Russian Defense Ministry said. “In the stormy conditions of the sea, the ship has sunk.” Ukrainian media reported that two Neptune missiles targeted the ship, but the allegations have not been verified by independents. A Ukrainian source told Sky News earlier: “It is on fire. The level of damage is being clarified … It is about 25 nautical miles from Snake Island.” The governor of Odessa, Maxim Martchenko, told the Telegram: “It has been confirmed that the Moskva missile cruiser today went exactly where it was sent by our border guards to Snake Island! “The Neptune missiles guarding the Black Sea caused very serious damage to the Russian ship. Glory to Ukraine!” Read more: Why the sinking of the Russian warship is a shame for Putin Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:18 What does the sinking of Moscow mean for Russia? Immersing a “symbolic” event Ukraine’s version of events – that the fire was caused by a missile strike – was “more likely,” Air Force Brigadier General Phil Osborne, the former head of Britain’s defense intelligence service, told Sky News. He said the development was “quite symbolic on both sides” and that Moskva was “quite a significant vessel for Russia”. The impact is “less the loss of the ship and more a demonstration of Ukrainian capability,” he added. Moskva, which dates back to Soviet times, was commissioned 40 years ago but has been renovated, he said. It had guided missiles to attack the coast and enemy aircraft, as well as radar to provide air defense coverage to the fleet. Subscribe to Ukraine War Calendars on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Spreaker The ship was involved in a high-profile incident – the day after the start of the Russian invasion – when it was one of two vessels approaching Snake Island in the Black Sea. The Russians ordered 13 Ukrainian soldiers defending the island to surrender, prompting one to tell Moscow and its crew to “go alone.”
