Support The Moscow Times!

Photos Appear to Show Stricken Moskva Missile Cruiser

The images - if authentic - are the first photos or videos to emerge of the stricken Moskva. @ua_industrial / twitter

Photographs posted online early Monday appeared to show the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s flagship on fire prior to sinking. 

Two low-resolution photos taken from different angles showed a large warship - apparently the Moskva - engulfed in smoke and keeling over in open waters.

Few details about what happened to the Moskva have been disclosed since it sank off the Ukrainian coast last week, and the images - if authentic - are the first photos or videos to emerge of the stricken vessel, a 186-meter-long missile cruiser that was leading Russia’s naval effort in the war on Ukraine.

The photos of the burning warship first appeared shortly after midnight on a Telegram messaging app channel that positions itself as a Ukrainian signals intelligence resource. 

It was quickly shared by other Telegram accounts, and on other social media.

“Looks like a legit photo of the Moskva after it was struck by Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles,” military analyst Rob Lee said on Twitter. 

While Russia claims its naval flagship sank during efforts to tow it to safety following an ammunition fire, Ukrainian military officials have said it was struck by Neptune missiles fired from Ukraine. 

It was not immediately possible to verify the photo’s authenticity, or date of original publication, and there was no immediate confirmation from either Moscow or Kyiv.

It appears to have been taken from a vessel nearby, perhaps involved in the rescue attempt. 

Military analysts say the Moskva’s loss is not only a symbolic defeat, but a blow to Russia’s ability to hit targets inside Ukraine.  

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry posted footage Saturday of what it said was a gathering of the surviving sailors from the Moskva. But there were only about 100 of the approximately 510-man crew visible in the video.

Russian officials have not given any details about the number of sailors who were killed and injured during the sinking of the vessel. 

A Moskva crew member’s wife confirmed the death of her husband, Ivan Vakhrushev, and said at least 27 other crew members were missing, the Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL) news website reported Saturday. 



Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more