Putin's navy chief 'missing' since Moskva sank – as audio leak reveals final moments

dailystar.co.uk:

Russia’s Black Sea fleet, hasn’t been seen alive since Putin's missile cruiser Moskva was sunk on April 14.While official reports claimed that the admiral was “not in the mood” to face the public, there are now growing suspicions that he was on board the most powerful surface vessel in the region when it was struck by two Ukrainian R-360 Neptune anti-ship missiles and sank while it was being towed to port for repairs.Independent sources suggest that dozens – possibly hundreds – died on the Moskva, but Russia only officially acknowledged one death with a further 37 crew members unaccounted for.Intercepted communications from the ship as it sank reveal a desperate SOS: "Moskva-1 - two holes, propeller stalled, sinking, lying on its side."The radio operator shouts that there is a hole below the waterline and a roll of 30 degrees.He says "there is no way to get closer" to the tugboats."We’re doing our best to save the crew," he adds.Russian sources initially tried to deny the sinking altogether – even releasing a now-debunked video showing the ship’s crew seemingly alive and well.

The clip was later revealed to be at least a year old.Osipov, 49, was notably missing from Monday’s Red Square Victory Day parade – an event he would have ben expected to attend.He was also nowhere to be seen at events linked to Black Sea Fleet Day this week.At one event on May 7, he was reported as being present – only for his name to be removed later.The governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, said: “Our commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Igor Vladimirovich Osipov, is now at his combat post.“Of course he is not in the mood for social networks and congratulations, but I’m sure he and our Black Sea people feel our support.”Despite this,.