Conscripts-survivors of sunken Moskva cruiser being sent back into war zone 

Parents of the conscripts that had survived the sinking of the Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, demanded that their sons not be sent into a war zone. According to their information, there are plans to make the sailors take part in combat again, as is indicated in the appeal at the disposal of Novaya Gazeta.Europe.

In their letters sent to the Sevastopol Military Prosecutor's Office, the Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers and the Commissioner for Human Rights the signees state that the conscripts still haven’t been transferred back to land—contrary to the promises. 

The parents claim that at the moment the soldiers are located on the missile frigate Ladny, commissioned back in 1981. The sailors’ relatives say that the ship requires repairs and is not in shape for combat. 

“There is information from the soldiers about being sent into the sea again on the missile frigate Ladny to participate in the Special Military Operation, allegedly on 30 June. We ask you to conduct an investigation regarding the alleged involvement of the Patrol Vessel Ladny in the Special Military Operation with a crew that includes conscripts,” the letter says.

The letter also states that there are currently 49 conscripts from the Moskva cruiser on the Ladny frigate. A lot of them do not want to go back into a war zone. “Our children, conscripts, have already been unlawfully made to participate in the Special Military Operation on board the Moskva cruiser, and got a combat stress reaction as a consequence. We consider it unacceptable for the survivors of traumatising events to be sent back into combat,” the parents add. 

On April 13, Ukraine reported that two Neptune missiles had hit the Moskva cruiser. On April 14, Russia confirmed that there had been an explosion on board. At first, they said the warship was damaged “as a result of detonated ammunition”, the sailors were evacuated, while the frigate “retained buoyancy”. Later, the ministry said that the Moskva cruiser had sunk while being towed towards Sevastopol during a storm.

As of today, the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the death of one crew member of the Moskva, adding that 27 crewmen are considered missing. Earlier, Novaya Gazeta. Europe interviewed the mother of another conscript who served on the Moskva cruiser. According to the woman, “about 40 people” had died in the sinking of the Moskva, and many were injured. A source in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet told Meduza news outlet that 37 people had died in the sinking of the cruiser, and about 100 were injured.