TOKYO/ISTANBUL -- The dramatic sinking of Russia's guided missile cruiser Moskva -- the flagship of its Black Sea fleet -- on Thursday was followed by a U.S. defense official telling reporters that Moscow immediately moved its four to five remaining ships in those waters south, farther from Ukraine.
The Moskva was 60 to 65 nautical miles south of the Ukrainian port city of Odesa. The other Russian vessels, which were operating near the flagship, are now no closer than 80 nautical miles from the coast, the American official said.