Moment frantic crewman on sinking Russian warship Moskva calls for help as sirens blare after hit by Ukrainian missiles

A FRANTIC crew member on aRussian warship an be heard calling for help is it sinks as sirens blare after being hit by Ukrainian missiles.

The Ukrainian military has released part of what it says is the intercepted radio message from the stricken Moskva, as it lay crippled and ablaze in the Black Sea.

The 12,490 ton missile cruiser, Russia’s Black Sea fleet flagship was hit by a barrage of Neptune missiles launched from the shore with reports saying 40 sailors were killed and 200 wounded.

The ship had played a deadly role in the war by bombarding Ukrainian towns from positions at sea before it was sunk, near Snake Island.

Video footage surfaced appearing to show the 611ft ship Moskva with smoke pouring from it and a rescue tug boat nearby.

Now new audio released by Ukraine reveals the panic on board as the crewman speaks to the tug boat seeking help.

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He says the ship has two holes and “it's tilting to its side, I repeat, its tilting to one side…it is damaged, I confirmed shell holes below the waterline”.

The sailor then continues “captain’s bridge is cut off, there is no connection. The tilt is 30 degrees, it’ll tilt to one side.

“No way to get closer. We are carrying out a feasible rescue of the crew.”

The Moskva had taken on legendary status among Ukraine’s defenders after a band of outgunned border guards said “Russian warship, go f*** yourself!” when it ordered them to surrender.

The message was broadcast on ship-to-shore radios and became an instant rallying cry of the resistance.

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The new recording comes as mystery surrounds the fate of Vladimir Putin's missing admiral, who may have been on flagship Moskva.

Igor Osipov has "not been seen alive" since then, sparking suggestions he was on board the vessel.

Initially, Ukraine claimed the commander had been detained amid fury from Putin over the cruiser's sinking, while others said he had been suspended. 

This was never confirmed by Russian officials, who this week insisted he was at his "combat post" but "not in the mood" to face the public. 

Osipov, 49, was conspicuously – and unusually – absent from the Red Square Victory Day parade on Monday. He would be expected to attend such an event.

After the initial strike on the ship, he Russian ministry of defence claimed explosions ripped through the ammunition stores triggering a major blaze.

The Kremlin has so far admitted to one fatality on the Moskva but many more are believed to have been killed.

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After the sinking an anonymous conscript survivor broke down in tears as he told his mum how at least 40 crew members were killed during the attack, with “many missing” and maimed.

Parents of another conscript say they have found out some 200 were wounded – many with horrific burns and other major injuries.  

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