Ukraine-Russia war LIVE – Sinking of Russian flagship Moskva warship ‘a big embarrassment’ for Putin

RUSSIA’S defence ministry has said that a Russian warship that was damaged by an explosion on Wednesday has sunk. The Moskva – a flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet – was being towed to port when “stormy seas” caused it to sink, according to the ministry. The 510-crew missile cruiser was a symbol of Russia‘s military power. Kyiv says its missiles hit the warship. However, Moscow has not reported any attack and says the vessel sank after a fire. Sky News’ Security and Defence Editor, Deborah Haynes, has called the sinking of the Black Sea flagship a ‘big embarrassment for Vladimir Putin‘. She also added: “If the Ukrainian claim about its missile strike is true, it also signals a capability to attack ships from the shore, which means other Russian vessels in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov are at risk – something their commanders perhaps had not previously anticipated.” Follow our Russia-Ukraine live blog below for up-to-the-minute updates…