'Massive blow for Russian credibility': Warship's sinking is a win for Ukraine

Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow at the London-based think tank Royal United Services Institute, echoed him regarding the significance of the loss of the Moskva. Kaushal, an expert on sea power and maritime doctrine, said its absence from the Black Sea would mean Russia's entire naval force would be vulnerable to air attack. Though Russia has comparable ships, Kaushal said, Turkey has closed the straits entering the Black Sea to “all belligerent warships,” meaning no other naval vessels can move into the theater in support.