Russian statements avoid any mention of Ukraine’s involvement in the destruction of Moscow. The Russian Ministry of Defense only stated that the cruiser sank when it was towed into port on stormy seas after ammunition exploded on board, a fire broke out and the hull was damaged and lost stability.
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“The sinking of the Moscow cruiser.
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Experts, referred to by CNN, believe that the sinking of Moscow is a severe blow to the national pride of the Russians; they liken it to the destruction of some American warships during World War II or to the destruction of an aircraft carrier today.
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“Only the loss of a ballistic missile submarine or Admiral Kuznetsov (Russia’s only aircraft carrier) would do a harder blow to Russian morale and naval reputation,” said CNN Carl Schuster, a retired US Navy captain and former senior US military intelligence officer. .
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It will disrupt morale
Alessio Patalano, a professor of war strategy at King’s College London, reminded that warships operate out of the public eye and rarely inform the media about their activities.
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“But they are large floating parts of the territory of certain states, and when you lose them, all the more so as a flagship, regardless of military losses, it is an extraordinary thing,” Patalano said.
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The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also states in its analysis of the sinking of Moscow that the event is likely to “undermine Russian morality” and is something that cannot be hidden from the public.
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“The loss of the cruiser Moscow – whether as a result of a Ukrainian attack or an accident – is a big propaganda victory for Ukraine,” said the ISW. The sinking of the ship, which the defenders of the Ukrainian Snake Island sent in indiscriminate words “to hell”, is a blessing for Ukrainian morale, the institute also stated in its analysis.
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Meduza, an independent Russian-speaking portal, writes that the devastation of Moscow could significantly weaken the anti-aircraft protection of other parts of the Black Sea Fleet involved in the war in Ukraine. However, he notes that the cruiser, as the only vessel in its class, did not receive new radars during the last modernization, which are able to effectively intercept low-flying targets, including Neptune missiles manufactured by Ukraine.
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It will not be a decisive blow, the institute claims
Konstantin Sivkov, director of the Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences (RARAN), described the destruction of Moscow on the lenta.ru portal as a very serious loss. He noted that the vessel had great attack potential and was equipped for the current conditions of combat.
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However, the Institute for the Study of War states that while the sinking of Moscow has shown that Ukrainian forces are able to attack Russian ships in the Black Sea and limit Russia’s ability to launch missile attacks, it is unlikely to be a decisive blow to the Russian military in the entire military operation. Ukraine.
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The main task of the cruiser was apparently to make accurate strikes against logistics centers or airports. These attacks were successful, but limited in number compared to air attacks and rocket strikes conducted from the ground.
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