They publish images of the sinking of the Russian flagship cruiser Moskva; this is what analysts say

This Monday the first photos and a video that supposedly show the Russian cruiser came to light Moscow shortly before it sank in the Black Sea.

In the images, which have not been independently confirmed, it is seen a column of black smoke rising from the Moskvaheavily damaged, which was reportedly hit by a Ukrainian missile attack last week.

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Pictures show that the ship’s lifeboats have been deployed and no sailors are visible on the cover, suggesting that the ship could have been abandoned. In the images, the Moskva is leaning to port as two fire hoses shoot jets of water into the air.

This is the Russian flag #moskva before she sank. It’s impossible to fully assess the situation aboard based on one picture but marine salvage masters must make assumptions based on little information. As a ship captain and ship fire author here’s what appears to be likely???? pic.twitter.com/pUjqo4j3Bs

— John Konrad V (@johnkonrad) April 17, 2022

A three-second video shot from a nearby boat appears to show a salvage tugboat approaching the burning Moskva. The brief recording ends abruptly as a nearby man yells, “What the fuck are you doing?”

The 1st video of the Moskva missile cruiser before it sank, if photos posted last night are accurate. It was listing to one side & on fire inside & out, with the area around the bridge burning intensely from what Ukraine says was 2 missile strikes pic.twitter.com/0QpI1tzOrI

— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) April 18, 2022

Several military analysts consulted by Guardian they said that the images seemed to match the Moskva, but that the photographs would require independent confirmation. The source of the photos and video, which was first brought to light by Osint investigators, is unknown.

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“I think the video is real. In regards to shape and size. It’s the Moskvasaid to Guardian Yörük Işık, journalist and expert ship spotter who photographs Russian warships traveling through the Bosporus.

The specialist said he believed at least one of the photographs was taken from a Project 22870 rescue tug, of which Russia is believed to have two in the Black Sea. The Moskva was being towed towards the port of Sevastopol when it sank, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. “These tugs are always close,” she said in a message.

The Russian Defense Ministry has provided very little information on how the ship sank, alleging that the damages suffered were due to an accident on board. For its part, kyiv, along with Western intelligence officials, say the ship it was hit by several Ukrainian anti-ship missiles.

This file photo taken on August 29, 2013 shows the Moskva, the flagship cruise ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, entering Sevastopol Bay. (VASILIY BATANOV / AFP).

HI Sutton, naval analyst and author, wrote that the “damage does not rule out a missile attack, and remains the probable cause”. Possible perforation marks on the side of the hull are visible below where the fire is. But they would need to be examined more closely to confirm whether they were caused by missiles or simply fire damage.”

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Russian government claims ship sank in ‘stormy seas’ while being towed to the port of Sevastopol. But the location of the fire could suggest it hit anti-ship or anti-aircraft missiles, causing a “catastrophic explosion,” Sutton wrote. Previously, the media had reported a large explosion on board the ship.

The Kremlin has also not confirmed the number of victims of the incident, publishing only a short video of the meeting of the top brass of the Russian Navy with some members of the crew.

The absence of lifeboats on board would suggest that a considerable number of the crew could have been rescued.. “All aft lifeboats have been launched, although one remains on the aft deck,” Sutton wrote. “This suggests that the crew has already abandoned ship at this point.”

However, other reports appearing in independent Russian media on Monday suggest that up to 200 sailors may have been injured in the attack on the ship. According to reports, the ship had about 500 crew members on board.

Source: Elcomercio