Putin informed about fire on Black Sea flagship, Russian MoD says ship afloat

Valentyna Romanenko – Thursday, 14 April 2022, 13:09

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, has been informed about the fire on the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The Russian Ministry of Defence claims that the cruiser "Moskva" [Moscow] is still afloat. The Ministry is concealing the causes of the fire.

Source: The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, cited in RIA Novosti [RIA News]; Dmitriy Peskov, press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, cited in RBK

Details: Dmitriy Peskov said that Vladimir Putin had been informed about the fire on the missile-carrying cruiser "Moskva" but refused to clarify how the Russian President had reacted to the news.

"I cannot tell you anything. Military reports are regularly sent to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief," Peskov said.

He also did not answer reporters’ questions about what had happened on the ship. "This is an issue for the Ministry of Defence," Peskov said.

At the same time, the Russian Defence Ministry claims that the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet "remains afloat." The causes of the fire are reported as "being established."

According to Peskov: "The fire on the "Moskva" has been contained. No open flames remain. Explosions of ammunition have stopped.

The main missiles have not been damaged.

The crew was evacuated by a ship from the Black Sea Fleet which was located nearby. Measures are being taken to tow the cruiser to a port."

Background:

• The cruiser "Moskva" and the patrol ship "Vasiliy Bykov" of the Russian Black Sea Fleet were the ships that threatened the defenders of the Ukrainian island of Zmiinyi [Snake Island - ed.]. Upon receiving the Russian request to surrender, Ukrainian border guards on Zmiinyi responded with a phrase that has already become legendary: "Russian warship, go f**k yourself!"
• On the evening of 13 April, Ukrainska Pravda sources and the head of the Odesa Regional State Administration reported that Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles had hit the "Moskva" missile cruiser belonging to the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
• According to a source in the intelligence service, 4 Russian technical vessels came to the ship’s aid about 20 nautical miles away from Zmiinyi Island in a raging storm.
• On 14 April, the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed that the missile cruiser "Moskva" was on fire, but the causes of the fire were not reported beside a message that "ammunition detonated for some reason."