Devastating blow to Putin as flagship is blown up

UPTO 300 sailors were feared dead yesterday as Ukranian missile strikes blasted and sunk Russia's Black Sea fleet flagship.

- Mark Reynolds

In a huge blow to Vladimir Putin's war machine, the Moskva was struck by two Neptune cruise missiles off the coast of Odesa.

Ammunition on the Soviet-era guided missile cruiser was then said to have exploded in a fireball. Some of the 510 crew were evacuated, but Ukraine said 300 perished.

The Moskva's loss is the single largest war casualty inflicted by Ukraine on the Russian military.

Ukrainian government adviser Anton Gerashchenko declared: “Mothers of Russia, wait for the funeral and thank Putin."

And Odesa governor Maksym Marchenko said on Telegram: "Glory to Ukraine!”

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said after the Moskva was hit: “It burns strongly and with this stormy sea it is unknown whether they will be able to receive help.”