The US provided intelligence that helped Ukraine sink the Moskva, Russia’s flagship Black Sea missile cruiser, officials told NBC News.
Unnamed officials said Ukraine had asked the US about a ship sailing to the south of Odesa. The US said it was the Moskva and helped confirm its location. Ukraine then struck it with two missiles.
Carrying a crew of 510, the Moskva was the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. It sank on April 14 after being struck by two Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles, US officials said. Moscow said the vessel sank after a fire.
The Moskva was the largest Russian warship sunk in combat since World War II. American officials said there were significant Russian casualties, but they don’t know how many.
US says that they did not know Ukraine would target the Moskva
The unnamed US officials quoted in the NBC report said they did not know that Ukraine would target the Moskva after helping determine its location.