Ukrainians Destroy Flagship Of Russia's Black Sea Fleet

Russia on Thursday said the flagship of its Black Sea fleet was seriously damaged and its crew evacuated following a fire that caused an explosion but a Ukrainian official said the vessel was destroyed when hit by at least two missiles, Pavel Polityuk and Oleksandr Kozhukhar reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: RTS Moskva (121)

The incident on the Moskva missile cruiser occurred after ammunition on board blew up, Interfax news agency quoted the Russian defense ministry as saying.

"As the result of a fire on the Moskva missile cruiser, ammunition detonated," it said in a statement.Maksym Marchenko, governor of the region around the Black Sea port of Odesa, said in an online post that the 12,500-ton ship was hit by two missiles, without providing evidence.

"Neptune missiles guarding the Black Sea caused very serious damage," he said in an online post. Ukraine warned late on Wednesday that Russia was ramping up efforts in the South and East as it seeks full control of Mariupol, in what would be the first major city to fall forcing Western governments to send more military aid to Kyiv.

The United States announced on Wednesday an extra $800 million in military assistance including artillery systems, armored personnel carriers, and helicopters. This took total US military aid to more than $2.5 billion. France and Germany also pledged more.

Russia's defense ministry on Wednesday said 1,026 soldiers from Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade, including 162 officers, had surrendered in Mariupol, which has been besieged for weeks, and that the port was fully under its control.

Capturing its Azovstal industrial district, where the marines have been holed up, would give the Russians full control of Ukraine's main Sea of Azov port, reinforce a southern land corridor and expand its occupation of the country's East.

Ukraine's general staff said Russian forces were attacking Azovstal and the port, but a defense ministry spokesman said he had no information about any surrender, Elizabeth Piper, Max Hunder, and David Ljunggren also reported for Reuters.

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