by Platon Besedin
[REGNUM] Today, April 15, 2022, in the hero city of Sevastopol, they said goodbye to the legendary cruiser Moskva. And the epithet "legendary" here is not for the sake of a red word - it is a statement of fact, and nothing more. "Moskva" is the same part of Sevastopol as Malakhov Kurgan or Chersonese. He is native, he is from childhood. I am telling you this as a citizen of Sevastopol.
And with "Moskva" I, like many others, are associated primarily with victories. Parade on May 9, for example. Or Russian Navy Day, where the cruiser—the “aircraft carrier killer,” as it was called—always took center stage. I also remember how in 2008 the Sevastopol residents welcomed "Moskva" on their native embankment. Then the steel hero with living heroes on board returned after the pacification of Georgia.
Now it won't come back. And today in the Sevastopol square of the 300th anniversary of the fleet, they said goodbye to the "Moskva." Already forever. Many were crying as if a close friend had passed away. The one who lived. Yes, the loss of ships is always perceived by the people as especially painful, but this is already a special case. The cruiser Moskva, indeed, intertwined with Sevastopol, becoming one of its symbols and certainly its talisman.
Yes, he has long been with the Black Sea Fleet and with the hero city, respectively. Launched in July 1979. So consider: he lived for 43 years. For a person, the age is considerable, but for a warship it is generally very, very solid.
After its flooding, by the way, many pedaled this very topic. Like, the old man was shabby. The cruiser, indeed, is somewhat outdated and required modernization. And here the damned question arises: why was this modernization not carried out? Although only a very sleepy one did not say: "Moskva" needed improvement. However, they didn't happen. Was there no money? What were they going for? Opportunities not found? Now what?
You can, of course, diligently broadcast that the Moskva cruiser is outdated morally and technically, but such speeches are relevant when you have dozens of modern and ultra-modern ships in ports, which, at least, are not inferior, but better than the object under discussion. How about with us? Is everything alright? It is reported that there are two ships equal to the "Moskva" in the Russian fleets. But how many spectacular, powerful yachts have been built by Russian oligarchs for the people's money.
In general, these attempts to justify the loss of the Moskva cruiser look, to be honest, sometimes not only unconvincing, but also harmful. After all, one should not be afraid to speak with the people - to speak, if not frankly, then at least semi-frankly. With us, it comes to the point that people learn information about the fate of the cruiser from the Pentagon. Is it correct? It seems to me that this military conflict should teach all of us exactly the dialogue between the people and the authorities. And this applies not only to the situation with the cruiser.
The special operation in Ukraine, in principle, raised a lot of damned questions. After the Crimean War, the Russian poet exclaimed: “Is it possible that the Russian soldier will return to the same thing? ..” He exclaimed with the implication that Russia needs changes, solid, intelligible. So the special operation, like that doctor, examines the patient, removes the bandages and diagnoses the state of affairs.
After all, many things in Russia were unwilling and could not be changed, not because there were not enough resources or opportunities for that, but simply because everyone was satisfied with the prevailing parity. The tops, elites, groups of influence (call it what you want) divided the country and everything seemed to suit everyone. But after February 24, things got so bad that only a madman does not understand: the changes are not just overdue - they rolled in like waves, and not to implement them means signing a death sentence for yourself. Sorry for the stamp, but in this case it is as accurate as possible and more than appropriate.
We have come to a great choice - to remain the same and lose Russia or, having changed, making systemic conclusions and taking drastic measures, try to save our Fatherland. Half measures, standard rhetoric and mechanisms are indispensable here. Only maximum mobilization and unpopular decisions can forge our victory. And then the death of the cruiser "Moskva" is not without sadness, but it certainly will not be in vain.
In the meantime, we say goodbye to the era and wait for changes. And I remember how, on one of my visits to the cruiser Moskva, I was there together with Yulia Chicherina and Vadim Samoilov. And they sang before the sailors. Mentally so, under an acoustic guitar. They sat straight, in a military way, but periodically glanced at the senior officers, and one of them nodded, giving a sign, and the sailors dragged along with Vadim and Yulia:
"The battle is over, the fire has withered
And there was nothing left.
And we live, and we are with you
Lucky…”
A photoplay of the commemoration for the sinking of the Moskva