Russian sovereignty over the Black Sea seemed unquestionable until yesterday, Thursday (14/4). The loss of the cruiser Moskva, which sank last nightis a serious business problem for them Russians in war in Ukraine. Above all, however, it is a colossal symbolic loss.
This is supported by the French Agency in a relevant article, which is rebroadcast by APE BPE. The flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, continues the article, which was built in the 80’s, sank within a few hours dragging with it to the bottom of the pride of Vladimir Putin’s armed forceswhich have been severely tested since the start of the offensive against Ukraine on 24 February.
According to Moscow, the cruiser was hit by a fire that caused the ammunition to explode. According to Kyiv, however, the ship was attacked with missiles.
In both cases, “is a loss of strong symbolic valueAccording to retired Admiral Pascal Auxerre, director general of the Institut méditerranéen des hautes études stratégiques (FMES).
A warship like the Moskva has the ability to continue the battle even after one or more blows and knows how to manage a fire, the nightmare of warships. «It is a ship of 12,000 tons, which sank in 12 hours (…). This is not foreseenHe adds.
The 186-meter-long Russian cruiser was armed with 16 anti-ship missiles Basalt/Voulkanwith missiles Fortthe naval version of the missiles S-300 long-range, and with short-range missiles Ossa. You also had rocket launchers, cannons and torpedoes.
Air coverage
His crew consisted of up to 680 menaccording to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
«Ensure air cover for other warships during operations and in particular during coastal bombardment and landing maneuvers“, Said the representative of the local military administration of Odessa Sergei Bratsuk in the Telegram.
The operational gap is significant, but manageable from Moscow, according to Western sources.
It protected an area of 150 kilometers in diameter around it, he explains Nick Brown, specialist at the British Janes Institute. «With Turkey closing the Bosphorus and Dardanelles to Russian ships, it will be difficult for Russia to replace these air defense capabilities.».
Nevertheless, “the rest of the Black Sea fleet remains a strong forceAdds Nick Brown, referring to modern class frigates Admiral Grigorovitchequipped with more modern anti-aircraft defense systems than the Moskva cruiser, albeit short-range, and ground-attack missiles Caliber.
«The Russian fleet was not left out of the battle“, He emphasizes.
However, Moscow received a strong slap in the face, as always, with the French Agency: After Contrary to expectations, it withdrew from seizing control of Ukrainian airspace, after showing significant tactical and strategic weaknesses in the first weeks of ground attacks against Ukraine, now its navy is receiving a severe blow.
«We see the same mistakes at sea that the Russians make on land“, Tells AFP a high-ranking French military.
Moskva doom “highlights weaknesses of Russian navy”
«The loss of the warship itself will not be a technical setback for Moscow, because the involvement of the Russian navy in the war is limited.“Says Maya Otarashvili of the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) in Washington. But Moscow will have to face the loss, if plans to “make more use of the navy in war”.
Because if Moskva was hit by Neptune missiles combined with the use of a drone For reasons of targeting or distraction, as stated by the Ukrainian forces, the question arises of the equipment of the Russian warships.
«Does Ukraine have naval defense capabilities that Moscow has not assessed?“, Wonders Otarashvili, stressing that the government of Volodymyr Zelensky was persistently asking for anti-ship missiles. «What kind of anti-ship missiles does Ukraine have? What damage could they do to the Russian navy?».
The details of the attack by the Russian cruiser will not be known immediately. Observing the hull would be important, but it is now at the bottom of the Black Sea.
Stays the image of a warship – a symbol, that took part in the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008, in Syria in 2015-2016, with a crew that had the reputation of the experienced, who considered it necessary to abandon the ship that could not save .
«It was the flagship, most likely the command staff of the fleet that has been developed in the area.“, Says Pascal Auxerre. They will have to designate another warship to take charge of coordination.
«It is a small sea, everything is within range of the anti-ship missiles. Locating and identifying is very simple“, Adds the retired admiral. The doom of Moskva «highlights the weaknesses of the Russian navy».
Source: News Beast
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