The Tragic Final Hours of Russian Ship ‘Moskva’: Sailors’ Desperate Struggle for Survival
On the 13th and 14th of April 2022, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship, the ‘Moskva,’ met its tragic end, marking the Russian Navy’s greatest loss since World War II. The story behind this disaster, now recounted by the father of one of the deceased sailors, Dmitri Screvets, sheds light on the chaotic, heart-wrenching last moments of the crew after Ukrainian Neptune missiles struck the ship.
At approximately 14:20 on April 13th, two missiles hit the starboard side of the Moskva, creating a critical situation aboard. In the aftermath, audio released by Ukraine reveals panic as crew members desperately radioed for help, warning of severe damage: “This is Moskva. Two holes below the waterline. It’s laying on its side. Communication with the bridge cut off. It’s tilting at a 30-degree angle. No propulsion. Crew rescue in progress.” The emergency response was swift, but the ship was already sinking.
Firefighting efforts were hindered by the failure of the vessel’s fire suppression systems, leaving sailors to manually pump water in an attempt to control the fires. Conditions on board were compounded by severe smoke, damage, and a lack of functioning safety equipment. Many areas, including the engine room and key damage control posts, became death traps as the fire raged uncontrollably. In the chaos, some crew members had to crawl out of dense smoke, relying on faulty gas masks to breathe.
As the fire spread and explosions became imminent, sailors were forced to abandon the ship. A portion of the crew, including conscripted sailors, managed to escape into lifeboats and rafts, though some of these vessels were in such poor condition that they sank before they could be used. Meanwhile, professional sailors and those unable to escape were left behind as Moskva continued to sink.
The vessel finally succumbed to the fire and water at 22:45, and by the following day, the Moskva was at the bottom of the Black Sea. Around 170 to 200 of its crew were either dead or missing, with many having perished from smoke inhalation or in the freezing waters after jumping into the sea. Rescue operations by nearby ships, including the ‘Admiral Essen,’ were unable to prevent the tragic outcome.
