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Russian state television says World War III has already begun since the sinking of Moscow.
The Kremlin’s main propaganda mouthpiece collapsed last night after the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship was removed.
Authorities have refused to acknowledge Ukraine’s claims that it hit the ship with cruise missiles, an operation that would be one of Kyiv’s greatest military successes since the invasion began.
But despite Russia’s insistence on a fire, the Ukrainian capital was hit by rockets overnight, a sign that Vladimir Putin wants revenge for the removal of the valuable naval asset.
The city has been spared air strikes since Russian troops withdrew from the north, but there have been strikes against Kyiv, Kharkiv and places to the west.
Russia 1, the Kremlin’s mouthpiece supporting the war, has come close to recognizing Ukraine’s sunken Moscow, demanding a devastating response.
Olga Skabeeva, one of Vladimir Putin’s leading propagandists, told viewers that Western support for Ukraine was tantamount to a direct conflict with Russia, saying: “What is escalating can easily be called World War III. This is completely safe.
“We are definitely fighting against NATO’s infrastructure now, if not against NATO itself. We have to admit that.
This is how the Ukrainian military says that the operation to take out Moscow has developed (Photo: Metro) al-Sisi aboard Moscow in 2014 (Photo: Reuters)
A guest on the show likened the sinking of “Moscow” to an attack on Russian soil, despite the Kremlin’s insistence, it fell because of a fire.
He also used the word “war”, banned in Russia, and had to be reminded of the government-approved terminology of “special military operation”, adding that Kyiv must be destroyed.
Russia has previously said it considers arms supplies to Ukraine a legitimate goal.
The Kremlin has also responded vehemently with news that Sweden and Finland will apply to join NATO in response to the invasion.
Pro-Ukrainian sources say Moscow was removed in an operation using drones to confuse its missile defense systems.
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With its cannons scattered by the drone hovering over it, two Neptune cruise missiles were launched from land and hit the left side of the warship.
The blast caused an explosion at an ammunition depot and a fire, a detail confirmed in part by the Kremlin.
Russia has said all 500 crew members on board have been evacuated, but deaths are likely.
It is the largest ship sunk in battle since the Royal Navy shot down Belgrano during the Falklands War and the most significant naval casualty since World War II.
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