Russia suffered one of the greatest material setbacks since the beginning of the invasion of Ukrainethe cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, has been “seriously damaged” by an explosion of ammunition according to Moscow and by rocket attacks according to Kiev.
When the Russian army is taking over the strategic port of Mariupolon the Sea of Azov, and to extend its offensive in southern and eastern Ukraine, the guided-missile cruiser Moskva “seriously damaged”said the Russian Defense Ministry, quoted by state agencies Ria Novosti and Tass.
“A fire exploded ammunition on board the missile cruiser Moskva. The ship was badly damaged.” according to the ministry quoted by the Tass and Ria Novosti agencies. The crew was fully evacuated and the cause of the fire is under investigation, he added.
Ukrainian authorities claimed earlier in the evening that it was their rockets that started the fire. “Neptune missiles protecting the Black Sea have wreaked havoc on this Russian ship”said the Ukrainian governor of the Odessa (south) region, Maxime Marchenko.
An adviser to the Ukrainian president, Oleksiï Arestovitch, confirmed the Ukrainian attacks on the ship on YouTube, without even specifying its location. “He burns with intensity. Utilities. And with these rough seas, it’s impossible to know when they can get help.”he said, assuring that “ 510 crew members » were on board.
In the early days of the invasion, the cruiser Moskva had taken part in an attack on Serpents’ Island, located in the Black Sea near the Romanian border, in which 19 Ukrainian sailors were captured. They were then exchanged for Russian prisoners.
Four civilians killed and 10 injured in Kharkiv
Russian attacks on Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, killed four civilians and injured at least ten on Wednesday, the region’s governor said.
“During the day, the occupiers continued to bombard Kharkov residential areas (…) Four civilians died in one day and ten others were injured”, announced on Telegram Oleg Synegoubov.
According to Mr. Synegoubov, “heavy artillery fire” fell mainly on the northern district of Kharkov. Russians “killing while carrying out attacks on the civilian population”, he denounced.
The second largest city in Ukraine, with a population of almost 1.5 million before the war, is located about 40 kilometers from the Russian border.
It was the target of heavy fighting for several days at the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, but still remained under control of Ukrainian forces.
Biden announces massive new military aid to Ukraine
Armored vehicles, artillery, helicopters: Joe Biden gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for massive new military aid to Ukraine. with heavier equipment than hitherto delivered.
During a phone call Wednesday with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, the US president announced that he had released a new tranche of aid worth $800 million, according to a White House press release.
These new US deliveries will include some of the equipment “very effective that we have already delivered to Ukraine, but also “new skills” including “artillery systems” and “armored personnel carriers”, said the US executive.
Moscow threatens to hit ‘decision-making centers’
The Russian army threatened on Wednesday with an attack on command centers in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, which Moscow has provisionally given up, and accused Ukraine of shooting and sabotaging Russian territory.
“If such events continue, strikes will be carried out by the Russian army on decision-making centers, including in Kiev, which the Russian army has not done so far.” said the spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.
