Russian flagship sinks in Black Sea  

The Russian flagship sank on the Black Sea Thursday.  Ukraine forces had claimed that they made a successful missile strike, which caused an explosion and fire that sank the ship.

But the defence ministry of Russia explained that the blast on the vessel was caused by exploding ammunition, noting that the resulting damage had caused it to “lose its balance” as it was being towed to port.

The defence ministry was cited to have said: “Given the choppy seas, the vessel sank.”

Ukraine’s Odessa military spokesman, Sergey Bratchuk, had claimed that the ship was hit by domestic Neptune cruise missiles.

The Moskva missile cruiser had been deployed to lead Russia’s naval assault from the Black Sea since the conflict erupted. The missile cruiser was blocking  the southern port city of Mariupol, where Russian officials have been in full control.

Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, had noted that he was unable to verify either of the explanations from Russia or Ukraine, but asserted that the sinking of the Moskva has dealt a “big blow” to the Black Sea fleet.