US intelligence helped Ukraine sink Moskva Russian cruiser
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In various US media outlets, the US contributed intelligence that assisted Ukraine in sinking the Moskva, Russia's premier Black Sea missile cruiser.
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US intelligence helped Ukraine sink Russian cruiser - report
Undisclosed officials said Ukraine asked the US about a ship sailing to the south of Odessa.
The United States confirmed that it was the Moskva and assisted in locating it. Ukraine then launched two missiles at it.
The Pentagon has not yet responded. However, a representative for the US State Department stated that the US provided intelligence to assist Ukraine in the face of Russia.
The Russian defense ministry stated, at the time the Moskva was sinking, that ammunition on board detonated in an undetermined fire, and the ship tipped over while being hauled back to port.
However, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby denied earlier media reports that the US was providing information about the whereabouts of senior Russian generals on the battlefield in order for Ukrainian forces to kill them.
"We do not provide intelligence on the location of senior military leaders on the battlefield or participate in the targeting decisions of the Ukrainian military," he said.
Kirby stated that Ukraine combined information provided by the US and others with their battlefield intelligence.
"Then they make their own decisions, and they take their own actions," he said.
US aid to Ukraine
The White House National Security Council (NSC) also disputed that the US was assisting Ukraine in its efforts to target senior Russian officers. "We do not offer intelligence with the goal of assassinating Russian generals," stated NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson.
The Biden administration is increasing its assistance to Ukraine. President Biden has asked Congress for $33 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, despite emphasizing that the US is not "attacking Russia."
The amount is more than double what the US has previously spent on military weapons and humanitarian relief.
According to Russia's foreign ministry, Western military support for Ukraine endangers "the security of the continent."
Yesterday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the Moskva missile cruiser sank while being towed during a storm due to the damage it sustained during the detonation of ammunition.
"During the towing of the Moskva cruiser to the designation port, the ship lost stability due to hull damage, sustained during the detonation of ammunition because of a fire. Amid the heavy storm, the ship sank," the MoD said.
The crew, according to the MoD, was evacuated to Black Sea Fleet ships nearby.
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