Russian cruiser Moskva still buoyant, missile armament intact
The flagship of the Russian Black Sea fleet remains buoyant following an attack by Ukrainian forces.
The flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, the Moskva cruiser, which caught on fire today after a reported attack by Ukrainian anti-ship missiles remains buoyant. Russian sources say that the source of the fire on the ship is unknown.
Russia's Defense Ministry explained that the ship's main missile armament is not damaged, and that the crew was evacuated.
"The Moskva cruiser retains its buoyancy. The main missile armament was not damaged. The crew of the cruiser was evacuated to the ships of the Black Sea Fleet in the area," the statement says.
Measures are currently underway to tow the cruiser to the port, according to the ministry, and ammunition explosions and the fire on the vessel were stopped.
Russia has not yet confirmed that the source of the fire is a Ukrainian strike, and said that the cause of the fire is being investigated.
"I can’t tell you anything, military reports are regularly sent to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on all events," Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said when asked by journalists about how the Russian president took the news about the incident with the cruiser.