The Russian Defence Ministry quoted that the damage was caused due to ammunition detonating ‘as a result of fire’. The crew of the ship have reportedly been evacuated but the ship suffered serious damage.
New Delhi: With the war between Russia and Ukraine entering the seventh week, Moscow on Thursday said that its Moskva missile cruiser, a guided missile cruiser of the Navy stationed in the Black Sea Flagship, has been “crippled badly due to an explosion”.
The Russian Defence Ministry quoted that the damage was caused due to ammunition detonating “as a result of fire”. The crew of the ship have reportedly been evacuated but the ship suffered serious damage. It further said that investigation is underway to find the exact cause of the fire incident. The report of damage to the Russian warship came amid Moscow threatening to strike Kyiv’s command centres.
Meanwhile, Oleksiy Arestovych, Ukrainian presidential advisor said that “a surprise happened with the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet”, the Moskva. In a YouTube broadcast he said, “It burns strongly. Right now. And with this stormy sea it is unknown whether they will be able to receive help. There are 510 crew members. We don’t understand what happened.”
Meanwhile, the United States is likely to supply more weapons to Ukraine to counter Russia. The US authorities have reportedly taken the decision to this effect as Russia has been signalling to intensify the war. For the first time on Thursday, US President Joe Biden referred to Russia’s attack on Ukraine as a “genocide”. Russia, however, has denied killing civilians in Ukraine.
Hailing Biden’s statement, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his forces required heavier weapons to counter the Russian attack. He later tweeted, “Without additional weaponry, this war will become an endless bloodbath, spreading misery, suffering, and destruction. Mariupol, Bucha, Kramatorsk – the list will be continued. Nobody will stop Russia except Ukraine with Heavy Weapons. #ArmUkraineNow.”
