Russia’s Sunken Warship Is a 'Big Blow' to Putin, U.S. Says

The loss of the flagship vessel of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet goes beyond wounded pride, robbing the military of important protection and capabilities as the war in Ukraine enters a crucial phase for Moscow.

How the Moskva caught fire late on Wednesday remains disputed. Russia’s defense ministry said the warship’s ammunition store detonated. The governor of Ukraine’s Odesa region, Maksym Marchenko, backed up by the defense ministry, said it was struck by two Neptune missiles, a new Ukrainian anti-ship system of which just one battery exists.

Bloomberg Quicktake brings you live global news and original shows spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world.

Connect with us on…

[andypozuelos]

Putin: "the Moskva, due to Great service history and excellent performance, has been promoted to submarine."

[Schlipperschlopper]

The warship Moskva has not sunk it has simply been reclassified as a new type of submarine and is on a special underwater mission!!

[SteveandLizDonaldson]

Well, I guess that's what happens when you put 90% of your defense spending into corrupt oligarch yachts instead of the navy that needed it. Cheers to Ukraine!

[jonnykz]

I love that Russia's face saving version is crew incompetence.

[DeftCrowMk]

Correction, the Russian Cruiser Moskva successfully intercepted two anti-ship missiles and got promoted to Special Underwater Platform.

[arthurl]

The ship is now conducting a special underwater operation. All is fine and going as per Putin's 3 day plan on day 50

[ianshaw]

Actually, the ship was promoted to submarine!

[PrivateEyeYiYi]

The Neptune missile used is derived from the Russian KH35. That being the case, Russia should get a little credit for sinking theilir own ship.

[thevoxdeus]

The Moskva is now the pride of Russia's submarine fleet.

[Tadicuslegion]

It didn't sink, it was a special redeployment to the bottom of the Black Sea.

[badysparta]

Putin: "The fires have been successfully extinguished after we submerged the battleship."
💙💛

[perjrgensen]

RESPECT.. Stay strong Ukraine.. Greetings from Denmark. 👍

[xjvewtk]

The loss of the Moskva is a catastrophic military defeat and absolute humiliation for Russia. It is better for Russia to capitulate as soon as possible, before they are even more embarrassed in the world. What a shame for Russia. 1. It is a flagship. 2. Bears the name of the capital of Russia, which is a significant symbolism.

[georgevalentine]

No matter how you cut it, this was a huge psychological blow for the Russians and, equally, awesome success for the Ukrainians.

[somedude]

I guess ship finally listened and went to “F itself” as originally suggested by Ukrainian border guard in the Snake island

[harleyr]

GLORY TO UKRAINE, SUPPORT AND RESPECT TO ALL THE BRAVE UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS

[hectoralejandro]

The ship was not sunk, it is participating in an Special Underwater Operation.

[judytaylor]

"We don't have the means to verify this" I find it hard to believe that. They can, via satellite imagery, see tanks being blown up but not a

[Chris-qedz]

Glad to hear, keep the faith Ukraine 🇺🇦

[samuelweir]

"In February 2012, Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, returned from a brief visit to Syria where it had showed the Russian flag in support of the Syrian regime. The three-month voyage was par for the course for the Russian carrier, but then things went awry: Kuznetsov lost propulsion on the way home and began drifting in the Bay of Biscay off the coast of France and Spain.
Russia apparently concealed the incident from the rest of world at the time, but the website gCaptain posted this video, taken from the Kuznetsov, showing the crew of the Russian Navy tug Nikolay Chiker struggling to take the carrier under tow. You can see the Chiker wallowing in heavy seas in front of the Kuznetsov, which then fires a line-carrying projectile (watch for the smoke trail) at the tug. Chiker's crew takes up the line and begins the towing process.
The two ships were 2, 700 miles from home when the Kutznetsov broke down. It's unknown how long the carrier was without power. Oceangoing tugs such as the Chiker regularly accompany large Russian warships abroad, but keep a low profile on foreign visits "
- "Tugboat Endures a Stomach-Churning Ride While Pulling a Russian Aircraft Carrier: When your only aircraft carrier breaks down 3, 000 miles from home, life sücks for the boat that has to tow it back.", Popular Mechanics.