蜜芽传媒

A Russian warship that was damaged by an explosion on Wednesday has sunk, Russia's defence ministry has said. The loss of the Moskva is a big blow to Russia's morale.

The flagship of the Black Sea Fleet went down while being towed across seas, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.

It had been badly damaged by a series of explosions, which Ukraine says were caused by two of their Ukrainian Neptune missiles being launched towards it.

Russia blames instead a fire which reached the ammunition store. If the Russia's version of events are correct it suggests extreme negligence.

Jeffrey Edmonds is a former Russia director on the US National Security Council and was a Russian naval analyst at the CIA, he told Newsday about the significance of the Moskva being severely damaged:

"It was a symbol of Russian power across the globe, and to lose it in this way, really questions what was the competence for the crew and the captain of the ship, and so it's just really a huge blow to Russia's prestige abroad".

(Photo: Russian Navy missile cruiser Moskva. CreditL Getty Images)

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