The Ukrainian navy describes how Russia tried to save the Moskva cruiser, three years after its sinking
The cruiser “Moskva”, the ambition of the Black Sea fleet, was sunk in the middle of April 2022, after being hit by two Neptune missiles.
Russian cruiser Moskva, submerged by Ukrainians Photo: EPA/EFE
The Moskva cruiser was damaged on April 13, 2022, when the Ukrainian armed forces hit him with two Neptune missiles, and then sank.
After the success of the Ukrainian blow, Russia tried to save him, carrying out a large search and rescue operation, the Ukrainian navy commander said in an interview, Ukranews reports. He claimed that, half an hour after the attack, several Russian ships started for the incident.
“There was also a search and rescue ship, which provided assistance to the cruiser so that he did not sink. Then they tied the ship to a tug and, as you know, took it to Sevastopol. They tried to save her, but they couldn't. From lunch to morning, when it sank, there was enough time to remove people from the ship. Part of the crew was even saved. Not everyone, of course. But I will never be able to tell you exactly how many of them were there and how many were saved“He said.
Immediately after the attack, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the ship had kept floatability and that the fire was located. Subsequently, the Russian authorities said that the ship sank because of a storm during the towing process to Sevastopol.
On March 30, 2025, The New York Times reported that American officials were angry when they learned that Ukraine had attacked the Russian Admiral Moskva from the Black Sea, especially since it had been detected during routine recognition by US and Ukrainian naval officers. On the other hand, the spokesman of the Navy, Dmitro Plettechuk, said that Ukraine obtained the coordinates of the Crucier Moskva, and Marina attacked on her own, without US assistance.
“God was on our side”
Also, the commander of Ukraine's naval forces, Oleksi Neijpapa, argued that hitting the cruiser “Moskva” was possible following several factors, such as: hitting the vulnerable points of the ship, detonating ammunition and unfavorable weather conditions.
“I think it was a coincidence. God was on our side. Of course, two rockets to sink a cruiser was a very low probability. It was in the afternoon, the admiral time, as the navy is said (when the ship's staff leaves the guard – no). As far as I remember, it is not far from the central command post, the survival post of the ship.said the commander of the Ukrainian fleet.
