The flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has sunk after it was heavily damaged in the latest setback for Moscow’s invasion, which has now lasted 50 days. Ukrainian officials said their forces hit the vessel with missiles, while Russia acknowledged a fire aboard the Moskva but no attack.
US and other Western officials could not confirm what caused the blaze. The loss of the warship, named after the Russian capital, is a devastating symbolic defeat for Moscow as its troops regroup for a renewed offensive in eastern Ukraine after retreating from much of the north, including the capital.
The Russian Defence Ministry said the ship sank in a storm while being towed to a port. Russia earlier said the flames on the ship, which would typically have 500 sailors on board, forced the entire crew to evacuate.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed his country as a "hero for the whole free world" as he marked 50 days of the Russian invasion.
In his nightly address, he praised his fellow Ukrainians for their bravery, saying: "For those who have the courage to call a spade a spade. For those who are not poisoned by propaganda. You have all become heroes. All Ukrainian men and women who withstood and do not give up. And who will win. Who will return peace to Ukraine."
And the mother of a UK soldier in Ukraine who was reportedly detained by Russians has called for his release. Images on Russian television appeared to show Aiden Aslin, 28, from Nottinghamshire, being led around in handcuffs with a cut on his forehead.
His mother Ang Wood, of Balderton, Nottinghamshire, called on the Russian government to treat her son as a prisoner of war in accordance with international rules.
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Black Sea flagship sinks in major blow for Russia
The flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has sunk after it was heavily damaged in the latest setback for Moscow’s invasion. Ukrainian officials said their forces hit the vessel with missiles, while Russia acknowledged a fire aboard the Moskva but no attack.
US and other Western officials could not confirm what caused the blaze. The loss of the warship, named after the Russian capital, is a devastating symbolic defeat for Moscow as its troops regroup for a renewed offensive in eastern Ukraine after retreating from much of the north, including the capital.
The Russian Defence Ministry said the ship sank in a storm while being towed to a port. Russia earlier said the flames on the ship, which would typically have 500 sailors on board, forced the entire crew to evacuate.
It later said the blaze had been contained and that the ship would be towed to port with its missile launchers intact. The ship can carry 16 long-range cruise missiles, and its removal from combat reduces Russia’s firepower in the Black Sea.
It is also a blow to Russian prestige in a war already widely seen as a historic blunder. Now entering its eighth week, Russia’s invasion has stalled because of resistance from Ukrainian fighters bolstered by weapons and other aid sent by Western nations.
The news of the flagship’s damage overshadowed Russian claims of advances in the southern port city of Mariupol, where they have been battling the Ukrainians since the early days of the invasion in some of the heaviest fighting of the war. Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said that 1,026 Ukrainian troops surrendered at a metals factory in the city.
But Vadym Denysenko, adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, rejected the claim, telling Current Time TV that “the battle over the seaport is still ongoing today”.
Zelensky: Ukraine became a hero for the whole free world
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed his country as a "hero for the whole free world" as he marked 50 days of the Russian invasion.
In his nightly address, he praised his fellow Ukrainians for their bravery, saying: "For those who have the courage to call a spade a spade. For those who are not poisoned by propaganda. You have all become heroes. All Ukrainian men and women who withstood and do not give up. And who will win. Who will return peace to Ukraine."
But Zelensky noted the conflict with Russia has been ongoing for much longer than 50 days. He said: "Russia did not start the war against Ukraine on February 24. Russian troops came to us in 2014. They captured our Crimea. They turned it into a large military base. They made the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov one of the most dangerous seas on the planet. They started a terrible, absolutely cynical war in our Donbas. They have been killing our people for 8 years. 14 thousand were killed during this time!"
During his address, Zelensky also said he had spoken to the Ukraine team who will take part in the Invictus Games, beginning on Saturday in The Hague. He said: "Among them are both veterans and servicemen who are currently defending our state. They are deeply concerned that they had to go to the competition. I assured them that we will wait for their return and will support them in the competition just as sincerely. I believe that our team will make us proud of it this year as well."
Mother of UK soldier captured in Ukraine calls for release
A British man fighting for the Ukrainian army has been taken captive by Russian forces, according to reports.
Images on Russian television appeared to show Aiden Aslin, 28, from Nottinghamshire, being led around in handcuffs with a cut on his forehead. His mother Ang Wood, of Balderton, Nottinghamshire, told the Telegraph she believes the images were legitimate due to a tattoo on her son’s arm that said “Happy Days”.
She called on the Russian government to treat her son as a prisoner of war in accordance with international rules. Ms Wood told the Telegraph she was “in bits”, adding: “I now hold Vladimir Putin to the terms of the Geneva Convention. Aiden is a serving member of the Ukrainian armed forces and as such is a prisoner of war and must be treated with humanity.
“It already looks like he has been beaten up. It is time now for the British Government to get involved and help secure Aiden’s release.”
It is understood the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is still working to verify the reports of Mr Aslin’s capture.
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