Lifebuoy and lighted buoy from sunken Moskva cruiser are pulled out of the sea
VALENTYNA ROMANENKO — SATURDAY, 28 MAY 2022, 10:55
Concerned sailors have fished out a lifebuoy and a lighted buoy that belonged to the Russian cruiser Moskva, which sank after being hit by Ukrainian missiles, and handed them over to border guards.
Source: Serhii Deineko, Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, on Facebook
Quote: "The Ukrainian Defence Forces’ collection of museum exhibits will be replenished with these wonderful items.
A lifebuoy and a lighted buoy from the sunken Moskva cruiser recently fell into the hands of border guards of the Marine Guard Detachment. They were handed over by concerned sailors. After the not-quite-flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet had its encounter with a Neptune, [various] things were drifting in the open sea.
It was the Moskva - now there is no [Moskva]. It left only pleasant memories. Glory to Ukraine!"
Reference: The Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, was one of two ships which threatened the defenders of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island on 24 February 2022. The occupiers demanded that the Izmail border detachment surrender. The Ukrainian soldiers’ response has now become a catchphrase: "Russian warship, go f**k yourself!"
Background:
- On 13 April, it became known that Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles had hit the Moskva missile cruiser, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
- On 14 April, the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed there had been an explosion on the cruiser, but said that the ammunition on board had detonated, the crew had been evacuated, and the cruiser itself was "staying afloat". The Russian Ministry later claimed that the Moskva cruiser had sunk in a storm while being towed to Sevastopol.
- Experts estimate that half of the crew were killed or injured. Investigative journalists believe that two-thirds of the Moskva’s crew might have consisted of conscripts.
- Relatives of Moskva sailors have been looking for them, but they have been told that the cruiser was not performing a combat mission, and that the soldiers [conscripts] are missing. At the same time, survivors said that the cruiser had been tasked with landing in Odesa.
- On 15 May, the Pivden [South] Operational Command published a recording of communications from the Moskva that took place as the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was sinking.
