Russia suffered one of its biggest material setbacks since the invasion of Ukraine began, as the cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet “severely damaged” by a munitions explosion to Moscow and by rocket attacks to Kyiv.
With the Russian military poised to seize control of the strategic port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov and expand its offensive into southern and eastern Ukraine, the guided missile cruiser Moskva was there “severely damaged”according to the Russian Defense Ministry, quoted by the state agencies Ria Novosti and Tass.
Ammunition exploded on board the missile cruiser Moskva due to a fire. The ship was badly damaged.” according to the ministry quoted by the agencies Tass and Ria Novosti. The crew has been fully evacuated and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire, he added.
Earlier in the evening, Ukrainian authorities claimed that their rockets caused the fire. “Neptune missiles protecting the Black Sea caused great damage to this Russian ship”said the Ukrainian governor of the Odessa region (south), Maxime Marchenko.
An aide to the President of Ukraine, Oleksiï Arestovitch, confirmed the Ukrainian attacks on the ship on YouTube without giving its location. He burns with intensity. Now. And with these rough seas, it’s impossible to know when they can get help.”he said, assuring that “ 510 crew members » were on board.
The cruiser Moskva had taken part in an attack on Snake Island in the Black Sea near the Romanian border early in the invasion, in which 19 Ukrainian sailors were captured. They were later exchanged for Russian prisoners.
Four civilians were killed and ten injured in Kharkiv
Four civilians were killed and at least ten injured in Russian attacks on Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine on Wednesday, the governor of the region said.
“During the day the occupiers continued to bomb residential areas of Kharkiv (…) Four civilians died in one day and ten more were injured”, announced on Telegram Oleg Synegoubov.
According to Mr. Synegoubov, “heavy artillery fire” fell especially on the northern district of Kharkiv. Russians “Killing in Attacks on Civilians” he scourged.
Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine before the war with almost 1.5 million inhabitants, is located about forty kilometers from the Russian border.
It was the target of heavy fighting for several days early in the Russian invasion on February 24, but still remained under the control of Ukrainian forces.
Biden announces massive new military aid to Ukraine
Armored vehicles, artillery, helicopters: Joe Biden on Wednesday gave the green light to massive new military aid to Ukraine, with heavier equipment than previously delivered.
During a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, the US President informed him that he had released a new aid tranche worth $800 million, according to a White House press release.
These new American shipments will include some equipment very effective that we have already delivered to Ukraine but also “new skills” including “Artillery Systems” and “armored personnel carriers”, said the US executive.
Moscow threatens to hit “decision centers”.
The Russian army on Wednesday threatened to attack command centers in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, which Moscow has abandoned for the time being, accusing Ukraine of shooting and sabotage on Russian territory.
“If such events continue, the Russian military will launch attacks on decision-making centers, including Kyiv, from which the Russian military has so far refrained.” said the spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.
war in Ukraine. Russian cruiser Moskva was “severely damaged”… Night point MAGNIFICATION