Russia admits Black Sea warship in flames as Ukraine claims missile strike

PanARMENIAN.Net - There has been a fire on board the flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, Moscow has admitted, with Ukraine claiming to have hit it with anti-ship missiles, Sky News reports.

Russia's defense ministry said the Moskva missile cruiser had been badly damaged after ammunition on board was blown up in the flames.

"As a result of a fire on the Moskva missile cruiser, ammunition detonated," it said in comments reported by the Tass news agency.

The crew - believed to number about 500 - evacuated and were all saved, it added. The ministry did not comment on what had caused the initial fire, saying it was under investigation.

Two Ukrainian sources told Sky News the 12,500 tonne ship had been hit by anti-ship missiles launched by the Ukrainian military.

"She is on fire," one of the sources said. "The level of damage is being clarified… She is about 25 nautical miles from Snake Island."

Two Neptune missiles were used, Ukrainian media reported.