[YouTube] In April 2022, the Russian guided-missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, sank following an engagement with Ukrainian forces. Ukraine reported striking the Moskva with two domestically developed R-360 Neptune anti-ship missiles while it was approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of Odessa in the Black Sea. The Neptune missile, designed to evade radar and strike targets up to 280 kilometers away, successfully bypassed the ship’s defenses.
After the reported missile impact, the Moskva was severely damaged, and despite Russian attempts to stabilize and tow the ship to port, it ultimately sank. The incident marked one of the most high-profile losses of a naval asset in recent history and highlighted the evolving role of long-range anti-ship missiles in coastal defense strategies.
