The Cruiser *Moskva*: 4th Anniversary. An Enemy Account. Unrevealed Details
On April 14, 2022, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the guided-missile cruiser *Moskva*—which had sustained damage due to the detonation of its ammunition—sank while being towed. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials claimed that the *Moskva* had been struck by two Ukrainian-made Neptune missiles (a descendant of the Soviet Kh-35 anti-ship missile).
The KCPN Analytical Center has translated an extensive enemy report dedicated to the fourth anniversary of the “events” involving the cruiser *Moskva*.
Naturally, the veracity of this material should not be taken at face value. In this account, they practically and completely deny any foreign involvement, instead presenting the narrative of their own special operation.
Let us examine their perspective on these events.
April 13, 2022, went down in history forever as the day Ukrainian forces dealt one of the most devastating blows to the Russian fleet. On that day, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet—the guided-missile cruiser *Moskva*—was struck and subsequently sank. The primary weapon employed was the Neptune anti-ship missile system, which was just beginning its operational career. However, the success was not achieved without the aid of a fortunate confluence of circumstances.
The Neptune system’s “baptism of fire” did not take place in April, but rather during the very first days of the war—no later than February 26, 2022. At that time, three Russian amphibious assault ships advanced from Crimea toward the coast of the Mykolaiv region, posing a threat of an amphibious landing. To engage them, the first three Neptune missiles were launched. The launch operation was complicated by the necessity of flying over Odesa at a high altitude (approximately 120 meters, rather than the standard 5–6 meters), which rendered the missiles detectable. According to sources, the Russians detected them and likely shot them down. Interestingly, during that same operation, Russian forces reportedly shot down one of their own aircraft by mistake. Although none of the missiles reached their intended targets, the desired effect was achieved: the amphibious assault ships, having recognized the threat, turned around and retreated to Crimea. It was a tactical victory that averted a potential attack on Mykolaiv and Odesa.
The weather that day appeared, at first glance, to be on the Russians’ side. The skies over the Black Sea were blanketed by dense, low-hanging clouds, rendering aerial surveillance—whether by aircraft, drones, or satellites—impossible. Furthermore, Ukraine lacked over-the-horizon radar capabilities. The crew of the *Moskva*—equipped with powerful air defense systems—felt secure and ventured within 120 kilometers of the Ukrainian coast. This overconfidence proved fatal.
Around 16:00, an operator of a Neptune missile system was astonished to detect a large target at an immense distance on his standard radar display. The dense layer of clouds hanging low over the water had created an unusual atmospheric effect: the radar signal began bouncing between the clouds and the water’s surface, forming a sort of “corridor.” This phenomenon allowed the standard radar system to extend its effective range far enough to lock onto the *Moskva*.
The Russian sailors, confident in their invisibility, likely had not even fully activated their air defense systems. After a brief but agonizing period of hesitation and consultation, the order to launch was given. Two Neptune missiles streaked toward their target in quick succession. Their flight was expected to take just over six minutes.
The first indication of success came in the form of intelligence reports indicating that the *Moskva* had signaled “full ahead.” The cruiser attempted to take cover behind offshore oil rigs—known as the “Boyko Rigs”—in an effort to disrupt the missiles’ guidance systems. Four Russian vessels raced toward the scene, but a sudden storm that erupted at that moment thwarted any plans for a rescue operation. When a tugboat departed from Crimea, it became clear to the Ukrainian side: the situation aboard the cruiser was critical. That night, one of the security officials messaged journalists: “The *Moskva* is finished.”
