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Ukraine has fiercely resisted Russia’s attempt to invade and take over the country, the battle carrying out into the waters as well. This week, it was reported that the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was struck by Ukrainian missiles.
BBC reported Wednesday that Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva was hit by missiles from Ukrainian forces. Maksym Marchenko, the mayor of Odesa, confirmed that the flagship was dealt “very serious damage,” according to the report.
“It has been confirmed that the missile cruiser Moskva today went exactly where it was sent by our border guards on Snake Island!” said Marchenko. The report went on to reveal that Ukrainian presidential aide Oleksiy Arestovych and other Russian rescuers were not able to reach the ship. The ship is believed to have over 500 people on board.
The Moskva became infamous as the ship that ordered a group of Ukrainian troops on Snake Island to surrender only to be told, “Russian warship, go **** yourself.” At the time, the troops were feared to be killed in action, but later reports revealed that they were taken in as prisoners by Russian forces.
Russia has also suffered high casualties since the war that began in February. Several high-ranking officers of the Russian military were killed in action.
In the midst of the conflict with Ukraine, Russia has also threatened to deploy nuclear weapons on the countries of Sweden and Finland should they join the NATO alliance. A close ally of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin issued a warning to Sweden and Finland’s leaders about joining the alliance, threatening to deploy its nuclear weapons in the region.
This comes as both Sweden and Finland are considering joining the alliance. The deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, said that Russia would have to bolster its land, sea, and air defenses in the Baltic Sea should the two countries move to join NATO. Medvedev went on to say that there could be no more talk of a nuclear-free Baltic region.
Lithuania said that Russia’s threats are not new and that Moscow had already deployed nuclear weapons to Kaliningrad long before it invaded Ukraine.
