The destruction of the Russian cruiser Moskva with just two Ukrainian Neptune missiles was an unlikely scenario, but a combination of factors led to its sinking, according to the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Oleksiy Neizhpapa.
In an interview with Crimea.Realities, Neizhpapa described the attack as a fortunate convergence of circumstances, stating, “God was on our side.”
He explained that "the missiles struck at an opportune time—during the "admiral's hour" in the afternoon when crew vigilance was lower. One missile hit the ship's mess hall, the largest room on board, located directly above the forward engine room and near the ship’s damage control and main command posts. This structural vulnerability significantly contributed to the ship’s rapid loss of survivability."
Additionally, the explosion of the ammunition from the AK-630 close-in weapon system likely intensified the damage. The second missile struck the stern, causing further destruction. As a storm raged with three-meter waves, the crew struggled to keep the ship afloat, ultimately failing.
Neizhpapa emphasized that the sinking of Moskva was not only a tactical success but also a symbolic one: “Moskva wasn’t just a cruiser; it was the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.”*
“Right now, Ukraine is the only country in the world that has destroyed a guided-missile cruiser during wartime. In this, we are the first,” he added.
According to Neizhpapa, Moskva played a central role in Russia’s past military campaigns, including the 2008 invasion of Georgia and naval operations in Syria. It was a key command ship for Russian naval aggressions.
Ukraine’s strike on Moskva in April 2022 remains one of the most significant victories of the war. The Ukrainian-made Neptune missiles initially crippled the vessel, causing a fire that the Russian crew failed to contain. Eventually, the ship and much of its crew sank, marking a historic defeat for the Russian Navy.
Immediately after the attack, Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed that the cruiser had remained afloat and that the onboard fire had been contained. However, later that day, Russian military officials admitted that Moskva had sunk during a storm while being towed to Sevastopol.
For a long time, Russia withheld information about the casualties. It was only on April 22, 2022, that the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that one serviceman had died, 27 were missing, and 396 crew members had been evacuated. However, according to Ukrainian sources, only 58 out of the 510 people on board were actually rescued.
The Moskva cruiser is infamous for being the target of the now-legendary phrase spoken by a Ukrainian border guard: “Russian warship, go f** yourself.”*
