Ukraine ‘SINKS’ Russia’s Black Sea flagship Moskva after a missile attack destroys a cruiser weeks after the Snake Island confrontation

In the latest humiliation for Vladimir Putin, an RUSSIAN vessel was blown up after being hit with a volley of Ukrainian missiles.

The Slava-class Moskva, a 12,490 tonne missile cruiser, is thought to have been lost after being hit by a pair of Neptune cruise missiles fired by Ukraine.

Russia confirmed explosions on the warship, which serves as the flagship of the country’s Black Sea Fleet.

Moskva has played a lethal role in the battle, bombing Ukrainian cities from sea.

Ukraine is said to have used a drone to harass the ship before attacking it with two cruise missiles.

The crew had been told to evacuate ship, according to Moscow, amid rumours that the 611-foot vessel was sinking.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, explosions swept through the munitions stockpiles, sparking a huge fire.

The despot has been briefed of the strike, according to Putin’s spokeswoman.

According to Ukraine’s southern military command, the missile struck the cruiser, causing substantial damage, and the ship began sinking.

The military stated the missile attack ignited the fire, and rescue ships were impeded by munitions bursting on board.

According to Ukraine, bad weather prompted the damaged vessel to begin sinking.

The ship has played an important part in protecting Russia’s navy, and its loss would be a big victory for Ukraine, leaving the remainder of the fleet exposed.

It comes only days after Britain stated that it will provide Ukraine high-tech anti-ship missiles.

However, the ship is thought to have been hit with Kyiv-made Neptune missiles.

The Moskva had become famous among Ukraine’s defenders after a group of outgunned border guards said “Russian battleship, go f*** yourselves!” when it ordered them to surrender.

The message was transmitted on ship-to-shore radios and quickly became a resistance rallying cry.

And if the Moskva sinks, it will be one of Russia’s worst military embarrassments of the war.

She would be the largest battleship to be sunk in battle since World War II.

Moskva would also be the largest vessel destroyed in battle since the United Kingdom sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano during the Falkland War in 1982.

Odesa governor Maksym Marchenko triumphantly said that the strike had resulted in “severe damage” to the flagship cruiser.

And, according to Russian sources published on Telegram this morning, Ukrainian forces have now sunk Putin’s flagship, dealing another severe blow to Moscow.

Ammunition onboard is believed to have exploded, igniting a fire, with Russian official media reporting that the whole crew had been evacuated.

According to reports, Moscow’s defence ministry has declared that the cause of the explosion is being probed.

Governor Marchenko, on the other hand, proudly remarked on Telegram: “The Russian ship was severely damaged by Neptune missiles patrolling the Black Sea.

“Ukraine, glory to you!”

Despite reports that Neptune missiles were responsible for the tragedy, Russia maintains that the damage was caused by a fire.

H I Sutton, a naval warfare specialist, told The Sun Online: “The attack would be symbolic as well as military in nature.

“Moskva was the flagship, hence she most likely had command and control over other vessels. Its air defences also encompassed a large portion of the northern Black Sea.”

“The Russian Navy may reconsider its deployment of vessels there.” The cruise missile launches are likely to continue, but the daring deployment of ships close the Ukrainian shore is unlikely.

“An amphibious landing near Odesa looks much less feasible now.”

The source, who previously wrote an article about Moskva for Naval News, also stated that the ship’s anti-air defences appeared “increasingly antiquated, even by Russian Navy standards.”

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry’s Ishchi Svoikh Telegram channel reported: “The cruiser Moskva sank about 3 a.m.

“Shortly before this, the Russian Ministry of Defense declared that there was a fire on the ship, that the munitions had detonated, and that the crew had been evacuated.”

The crew had been “fully evacuated,” according to the Russian news agency TASS.

The term “totally” was omitted in a subsequent version of the story.

It comes only weeks after a Soviet-era ship opened fire on 13 recalcitrant border guards assigned to safeguard Snake Island.

After being requested to surrender, the Ukrainians famously advised Putin’s forces to “go f*** yourself.”

The ship was “burning strongly” following the allegedly successful hit, according to Ukrainian presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych.

In a YouTube video, he stated that “a surprise happened with the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.”

“It burns hot,” Arestovych continued. Currently. And with this rough sea, it’s unclear if they’ll be able to obtain assistance.

“There are 510 people on the crew.” “We have no idea what happened.”

The Moskva, a 600ft, 12,500 tonne cruiser, patrols the Black Sea and serves as the fleet’s flagship.

During the early days of the struggle, it became famous when the Snake Island battle cry became a war cry for Ukrainians.

Snake Island is governed by Ukraine, yet it is located just a few kilometres off the coast of Romania.

The loss of the small island will allow Russia to claim territorial seas reaching 12 nautical miles out to sea.

Russia would be able to take off important shipping routes, cutting Ukraine off from worldwide markets and depriving its economy of trade earnings.

It comes after dramatic video emerged of a Russian ship allegedly loaded with munitions being blown up.

The landing ship, called Orsk, is shown on fire in the footage, while black smoke can be seen billowing from the port in captured Berdyansk.

Another Kremlin Navy ship was damaged when Orsk sunk and munitions onboard detonated, sending black smoke rising into the sky.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, explosions swept through the munitions stockpiles, sparking a huge fire.

The despot has been briefed of the strike, according to Putin’s spokeswoman.

According to Ukraine’s southern military command, the missile struck the cruiser, causing substantial damage, and the ship began sinking.

The military stated the missile attack ignited the fire, and rescue ships were impeded by munitions bursting on board.

According to Ukraine, bad weather prompted the damaged vessel to begin sinking.

The ship has played an important part in protecting Russia’s navy, and its loss would be a big victory for Ukraine, leaving the remainder of the fleet exposed.

It comes only days after Britain stated that it will provide Ukraine high-tech anti-ship missiles.

However, the ship is thought to have been hit with Kyiv-made Neptune missiles.

The Moskva had become famous among Ukraine’s defenders after a group of outgunned border guards said “Russian battleship, go f*** yourselves!” when it ordered them to surrender.

The message was transmitted on ship-to-shore radios and quickly became a resistance rallying cry.

And if the Moskva sinks, it will be one of Russia’s worst military embarrassments of the war.

She would be the largest battleship sunk in combat since World War II.

Moskva would also be the largest vessel lost in battle since Britain sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano during the Falkland War in 1982.

Odesa governor Maksym Marchenko triumphantly declared that the strike had inflicted “severe damage” to the flagship cruiser.

And, according to Russian sources published on Telegram this morning, Ukrainian forces have sunk Putin’s flagship, dealing another severe blow to Moscow.

Ammunition onboard is suspected to have exploded, igniting a fire, with Russian official media reporting that the whole crew had been evacuated.

According to reports, Moscow’s defence ministry has declared that the cause of the explosion is being probed.

Governor Marchenko, on the other hand, proudly remarked on Telegram: “The Russian ship was severely damaged by Neptune missiles patrolling the Black Sea.

“Ukraine, glory to you!”

Despite reports that Neptune missiles were responsible for the tragedy, Russia maintains that the damage was caused by a fire.

H I Sutton, a naval warfare specialist, told The Sun Online: “The attack would be symbolic as well as military in nature.

“Because Moskva was the flagship, she most certainly possessed command and control over other warships.” And its air defences encompassed a large portion of the northern Black Sea.”

“The Russian Navy may reconsider its deployment of vessels there.” The cruise missile launches are likely to continue, but the daring deployment of ships close the Ukrainian shore is unlikely.

“An amphibious landing near Odesa looks much less feasible now.”

The source, who previously wrote an article about Moskva for Naval News, also stated that the ship’s anti-air defences appeared “increasingly antiquated, even by Russian Navy standards.”