“History rewritten” with Ukraine’s Neptune strikes sinking Moskva cruiser - defense chief
Exactly one year ago, Ukraine’s Naval Forces rewrote centuries-old history as that very "Russian warship" was hit by a high-precision strike of Ukrainian Neptune missiles.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov recalled the event on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.
"That very ‘Russian warship,’ the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the Moskva missile cruiser, was hit by high-precision strike of Ukrainian Neptune missiles, which made the ship sink the next day,” Reznikov wrote.
He recalled the general mood a year ago as many saw the event truly inspiring and at the same time almost unbelievable.
“After all, the last time Russia lost its flagship was more than a century ago," Reznikov noted.
According to the minister, Ukrainian soldiers did the seemingly impossible. “And it changed the course of history. Because a chain reaction has started. It was the last day of dominance of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea,” defense chief wrote.
"Firstly, the successful use of Ukrainian missiles at such a range convinced our partners that there is no point in delaying the transfer of Harpoon missiles. Secondly, as soon as the Harpoon missiles were received, the team of Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa successfully employed them as well. As a result, this led to the escape of the Russian occupiers from Snake Island, the move they claimed was a ‘gesture of goodwill,’” said Reznikov.
The liberation of the island, in turn, allowed for the opening of the "grain corridor". The world received our foodstuffs, while Ukraine received defense assets. Had the Moskva not been destroyed, it would have been impossible to achieve this result, the minister reflects.
Now, the Russian fleet is forced “to hide to the south and east of the Crimea.”
“The Kremlin's dreams of landing a force on the Odesa coast are a thing of the past. Now the Russians can only cowardly fire at civilians from the air," the head of the Defense Ministry emphasized.
According to the minister, the main conclusion it that “this is our country and it is we who decide how to defend it. Even if someone still cares about saving the Kremlin’s face.”
Reznikov emphasized that it was proven in combat that weapons "made in Ukraine" are able to cope with the most difficult tasks and protect the country on par with the best samples produced by Ukraine’s partners. "The development of the Ukrainian military industry is a priority because it is an element of our independence. Our success on the battlefield is a guarantee that we will be supported," Reznikov is convinced.
"I am sure that after our victory, the Moskva will become one of the most popular locations for divers. And tourists from all over the world will raise glasses of fantastic Crimean wine to a good toast in Ukrainian Crimea," summed up Reznikov.
As reported earlier, the Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship, the Moskva missile cruiser, sank on April 14, 2022, as a result of a strike carried out on April 13, 2022 in the area of Snake Island. Ukrainians fired two missiles using the RK-360MC Neptune coastal defense missile complex.