Russia says flagship missile cruiser Moskva has sunk after fire

(Reuters) -The missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, has sunk in stormy seas following a serious hearth onboard, Russian information businesses cited the defence ministry as saying on Thursday.

The defence ministry had mentioned earlier that the Soviet-era warship had been badly broken by the hearth. Ukraine, nonetheless, mentioned the shipboard blaze resulted from its missile strike. Reuters was unable to confirm both account.

“In the course of the towing of the cruiser ‘Moskva’ to the port of vacation spot the ship misplaced stability because of the injury to the hull obtained in the course of the hearth from the detonation of ammunition,” the businesses cited the ministry as saying.

“Within the stormy sea situations, the ship has sunk.”

The ministry reiterated that the crew had been evacuated.

(Reporting by Reuters; writing by Lidia Kelly; enhancing by Jonathan Oatis)