This content was published on April 15, 2022 – 6:54 p.m. April 15, 2022 – 6:54 p.m
Washington, 15 April (EFE) .- US Defense Department sources confirmed this Friday that the Russian missile cruiser Moskvá (Moscow) sank after being hit by two Ukrainian missiles, Kyiv claims but the Kremlin denies.
US media including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and CNN quoted anonymous Pentagon sources as saying US intelligence reports indicated that the attack claimed several lives among Moskva garrison crews.
Likewise, these sources indicated that lifeboats were responsible for picking up the survivors in the Black Sea.
The ship was hit by the missiles when it was about 65 nautical miles from Odessa in Ukraine and was able to move under its own power for a few hours before sinking on Thursday.
Pentagon sources assured that cruise missiles were found on board the ship “which are now at the bottom of the Black Sea”.
The sinking of the Mosvká, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, is a major setback for Russia.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the ship sank in the middle of a storm on Thursday while being towed into port, already without its crew, who had been evacuated in other ships of the Black Sea Fleet.
The ship’s armament included 16 Vulkan anti-ship missiles and 64 S-300F anti-aircraft missiles in eight launchers, as well as artillery, torpedoes and depth charges.
The Moskva was also equipped with a Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter.
With a length of 186.5 meters, a beam of 20.8 meters and a displacement of 11,490 tons, the ship, which could reach a top speed of 30 knots, was launched in 1979 and entered service with the Soviet Navy four years later. Slava” (Glory). EFE
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