Ukrainian missiles or mishap? Blast on flagship marks new humiliation for Russia
Moskva was involved in the notorious attack on Snake Island
Moskva was involved in the notorious attack on Snake Island
Moskva was involved in the notorious attack on Snake Island
Moskva was involved in the notorious attack on Snake Island
Early on Thursday, the Russian defence ministry issued an unusual statement on the war in Ukraine.
It announced that ammunition had exploded on board the Moskva, a guided missile cruiser of the Russian Navy, due to a fire. The ship has been on patrol in the Black Sea to support the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The statement said the “ship was seriously damaged” and the “crew was completely evacuated”.
The statement was unusual as it came immediately after Ukraine claimed it had “seriously” damaged the Moskva by firing two indigenously developed Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles.
The Russian military has been slow to respond to most Ukrainian claims of successful attacks on Moscow's forces.
Why the Moskva matters
The Moskva is the lead ship of the 'Slava' class of missile cruisers. Cruisers are large warships, typically displacing over 8,000 tonnes, which are capable of independent operations against aerial, sea-based and undersea threats.
The Moskva joined the erstwhile Soviet Navy in 1982, initially being named the Slava. The Moskva displaces over 12,000 tonnes and is considered a floating missile battery. It has a distinct, menacing appearance due to the presence of 16 P-1000 anti-ship cruise missiles, launched from cigar-shaped tubes. These missiles were meant for the Slava class ships' primary role: Attack US Navy aircraft carriers and anti-ship missiles.
In addition to the anti-ship missiles, the Moskva and her two existing sister ships are equipped with two types of surface-to-air missiles—the main system being a naval variant of the long-range S-300 anti-aircraft missile—and anti-submarine weapons. The Moskva has been the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy.
Its presence in the operation in Ukraine has been attributed to the need to ensure air defence against any attacks on Russian amphibious forces.
The Moskva was involved in the notorious attack on a Ukrainian garrison on Snake Island at the start of the war. The defenders on the island were subjected to indiscriminate fire after they famously told the Moskva to “f**k off.”
As news of the explosion emerged, supporters of Ukraine were quick to highlight the Moskva's role in the attack on Snake Island.
How did the explosion happen?
The Neptune missile is believed to be a derivative of a Soviet-era weapon, the Kh-35. The Kh-35 is in service with the Russian Navy and export customers, including the Indian Navy. The Neptune is believed to have a range of around 280km and uses a radar as its primary sensor. The Neptune is not considered a cutting-edge weapon either in terms of stealth, speed or electronic sophistication. Some unconfirmed reports claimed the Ukrainian military deployed a drone to 'distract' the Moskva before the missile attack.
Ships like the Slava class were designed with the capability to counter NATO aircraft and anti-ship missile attacks. In addition to the S-300, the Moskva has a short-range 'Osa' surface-to-air missile system and at least 4 quick-firing AK-630 guns to shoot down any missiles that evade the SAMs. This is in addition to electronic jammers and decoys to lure away anti-ship missiles.
If it is confirmed that Ukraine was able to distract the Moskva with a UAV and attack it with anti-ship missiles, uncomfortable questions will be posed about the state of technology and air defence systems on the Russian ships and their tactics.
Profiles of the Slava class claim the ships had a poor reputation for damage control due to the use of flammable material in construction. Moreover, in the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union, budget cuts meant most Russian ships suffered in terms of quality of training and maintenance.
This would make the possibility of an accident on the Moskva realistic.
Aftermath
Ships of the Slava class are estimated to have a crew of about 500. Even if there are no or few casualties in the explosion, the incident is arguably the worst humiliation for the Russian Navy in this conflict, if not in the post-Soviet era.
If the incident was the result of a Ukrainian attack, it is likely to dampen Moscow's enthusiasm for carrying out an amphibious assault on Crimea. This is due to the risk of further attacks from anti-ship missiles and rockets.