(Reuters) – A sailor has died and 27 others are missing after the sinking last week of the Moskva, Russia’s flagship in the Black Sea, while 396 other crew members were rescued, the State reported on Friday. RIA news agency quoting Russian Defense Minister.
The cruiser Moskva sank on April 14 after a fire on board, attributed by Moscow to the explosion of ammunition and by Ukraine to missile strikes.
“Attempts by the crew to put out the fire were unsuccessful,” said the Minister of Defense quoted by RIA.
“In the fight to stabilize the vessel, one soldier died and 27 other crew members were reported missing. The remaining 396 crew members were rescued,” he added.
Russia has so far maintained that all crew members have been evacuated.
(Report David Ljunggren, French version Laetitia Volga)