Russian Black Sea flagship fell on Thursday after an explosion and fire that Ukraine claimed was the result of a successful missile strike, as the Kremlin accused Kyiv of targeting its citizens in cross-border raids.
The Moskva missile cruiser had been leading Russia's naval operation in the seven-week fight, which has generated charges of genocide from the US and others, according to AFP.
The blast aboard the warship was caused by bursting ordnance, according to Russia's defence ministry, and the subsequent damage led it to "lose its equilibrium" while being towed to port.
"The vessel sank due to the stormy seas," the Russian state news outlet TASS quoted the ministry as saying.
According to Odessa military spokeswoman Sergey Bratchuk, the ship was attacked by domestic Neptune cruise missiles.
In Washington, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said he couldn't confirm either account, but that the Moskva's sinking delivered a "major damage" to the Black Sea force.
The fleet has been blockading the embattled southern port city of Mariupol, over which Russian officials claim complete control.
Russia is focussing on the east after withdrawing from northern Ukraine earlier this month after failing to grab the capital; Kyiv is warning of brutal new fighting in the Donbas area.
As Russia's military defeats mounted, the CIA warned that President Vladimir Putin would resort to using a tactical or low-yield nuclear weapon.
"We are certainly concerned. I know President Biden is profoundly concerned about avoiding a third world war, about avoiding a tipping point where, you know, nuclear war becomes a possibility "In a speech in Atlanta, CIA Director William Burns stated.
"However, the US has yet to see a lot of practical proof of real deployments, which would cause additional concern," he noted.
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