Moscow [Russia], April 14 (ANI): Russia’s Moskva missile cruiser, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet has been hit by heavy fire and the following detonation of ammunition, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

“As a result of the fire that hit the Moskva missile cruiser, the ammunition has detonated. The ship has been seriously damaged,” the ministry said in a statement, Sputnik reported.

The statement added that all the crew members had been safely evacuated, causes of the fire are being investigated. The ship, whose initial name was “Slava,” was laid down in 1976 in Mykolaiv and commissioned in 1983, the news agency reported. (ANI)

Russian warship sinks in Black Sea

Moscow [Russia], April 15 (ANI): Russian Defence Ministry on Thursday said that its warship Moskva has sunk in the Black Sea while being towed amid a storm as the warship was badly damaged by heavy fire and the following detonation of ammunition. “During the towing of the Moskva cruiser to the designation port, the ship lost stability due to hull damage, sustained during the detonation of ammunition because of a fire. Amid the heavy storm, the ship sank,” the Ministry said, reported TASS.

Russia’s Moskva missile cruiser, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet has been hit by heavy fire and the following detonation of ammunition, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. “As a result of the fire that hit the Moskva missile cruiser, the ammunition has detonated. The ship has been seriously damaged,” the ministry said in a statement, Sputnik reported.

The statement added that all the crew members had been safely evacuated, causes of the fire are being investigated. The ship, whose initial name was “Slava,” was laid down in 1976 in Mykolaiv and commissioned in 1983, the news agency reported. (ANI)

Putin to hold meeting on situation in oil, gas sector

Moscow [Russia], April 14 (ANI/Sputnik): Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting on Thursday on the situation in the oil and gas sector, with the main report to be made by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, in charge of the issue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Western countries in response to Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine have introduced a number of anti-Russian sanctions. Some of them directly or indirectly affected the Russian oil and gas sector.

The United States announced an embargo on imports of Russian energy resources (with the exception of uranium). Next, the UK announced that by the end of 2022 it would stop importing oil and oil products from Russia. Poland also wants to stop buying oil from Russia by the end of the year.

However, the European Union has so far refrained from a collective ban on oil and gas imports from Russia, realizing its dependence. Nevertheless, periodic statements about the possible refusal by the EU to use Russian oil and gas create a general negative background for their exports. The same effect was provoked by the embargo of the US, which is not even a significant market for the Russian Federation. As a result, many buyers, fearing potential sanctions and reputational risks, independently decide to refrain from buying Russian energy resources. (ANI/Sputnik)