AFTER Ukraine blitzed a huge Russian tanker, fears have grown that NUKES may lurk on the sea floor.

The Moskva cruiser, which was sunk by Ukraine on Thursday, was carrying anti-ship missiles P-1000 “Vulkan,” which could carry a nuclear payload.

The loss of the Soviet-era Moskva in the Black Sea spurred Russia to unleash a fierce reprisal, subsequently claiming to have blitzed the plant that manufactured the missiles that sank their treasured flagship.

On Thursday night, the defence ministry said it blasted the ‘Vizar’ factory on the outskirts of Kyiv, which it claims builds Neptune anti-ship missiles.

Moskva, a 40-year-old icon of Russian military strength, was left a smouldering ruin after receiving two direct missile strikes in the attack, and subsequently went down while being towed to the Crimean naval port of Sevastopol.

According to the most recent reports from Ukraine on Friday, the skipper of the Moskva was killed in the humiliating missile strike.

The sinking of the Soviet-era Moskva in the Black Sea prompted Russia to launch a ferocious retaliation, claiming to have blitzed the facility that produced the missiles that destroyed their prized flagship.

The defence ministry stated on Thursday night that it had bombed the ‘Vizar’ plant on the outskirts of Kyiv, which it says manufactures Neptune anti-ship missiles.

Moskva, a 40-year-old symbol of Russian military might, was left a smouldering ruin after being hit by two direct missile hits during the invasion, and then went down while being towed to the Crimean naval port of Sevastopol.

The skipper of the Moskva was killed in the humiliating missile hit, according to the most current information from Ukraine on Friday.

There was no official confirmation from Moscow on Kuprin’s death, but Russia has failed to report the deaths of numerous key military figures during the 51-day conflict.

Russia claims that the crew was evacuated, but there are growing concerns about lost life on the warship.

CREW MYSTERY

It is said that just about 50 of the crew are still alive, having been picked up by a Turkish vessel.

Another 14 were apparently flown to the port of Sevastopol, leaving over 450 whose fates are unknown.

Overnight video from Sevastopol shows scores of automobiles allegedly belonging to sailors still parked at the port, implying their owners haven’t arrived to retrieve them.

A “farewell ceremony” to the Moskva is scheduled for today in Sevastopol at a monument commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Russian navy.

The strike left Russian despot Vladimir Putin thirsting for violent vengeance, and he struck quickly with a fresh bombing campaign.

And he pledged additional strikes against Kiev as they seek vengeance for the loss of the 12,490-tonne monster ship.

“The frequency and size of missile strikes against Kyiv targets will rise in reaction to any terrorist actions or acts of sabotage on Russian territory undertaken by the Kyiv nationalist government,” Russia’s defence ministry warned in a statement.

According to Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko, strikes later shook the capital Kyiv on Thursday night.

She stated in a late-night tweet on Thursday: “Right now, there are three explosions in #Kyiv. Following one after the other.

“The air raid warning has been on for an hour. Most likely #putin gone livid because of the #Moskva sinking.

“Oh well, we’ll simply stay standing, much to #Russia’s chagrin.”

The sky above Kyiv has been lighted up by many explosions, according to social media footage, and these look to be the most significant strikes since Russia withdrew from the city earlier this month.

Blasts were also heard in the southern city of Kherson, the eastern city of Kharkiv, and the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraine.

NUKE HORROR

The Moskva is not just the heaviest loss since the Belgrano, but it is also the largest naval asset sunk since World War II.

However, in a disturbing disclosure, insiders claim there is now serious danger that the vessel has many nuclear weapons.

Andriy Klymenko, editor-in-chief of BlackSeaNews, has urged for an immediate international investigation into whether the Moskva was carrying nuclear weapons.

“”Friends and experts claim there are two nuclear cruise missile warheads on board the Moskva,” he stated.

“Perhaps this is new knowledge for many, but it is real” – the battleship is a “carrier of nuclear weapons.”

“Where are these warheads?” he inquired. What were they doing when the ammo detonated? What are the coordinates for the spot on the map?”

The submerged Moskva also posed a nuclear hazard, according to the Ukrainian online journal Defence Express.

“There is a serious probability that the afflicted Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship may have had nuclear bombs on board,” they stated.

“In addition to the P-1000 “Vulkan” missiles, the nuclear missile cruiser Moskva may carry additional nuclear warheads.”

A town in Russia’s border area with Belarus, which has a military facility, was attacked Thursday, amid frightening tales of probable nukes in the Black Sea.

The attack came after explosions at an ammunition depot and an oil plant in Belgorod, as well as along a nearby railroad line.

Images from Belgorod in the early hours of Friday morning showed anti-aircraft missiles in the sky, implying that further strikes were in the works.

It comes as the ministry said that its soldiers had fully seized control of the Ilyich Steel Plant in the besieged coastal city of Mariupol.

On Wednesday, Russia said that 1,026 Ukrainian soldiers from the 36th Marine Brigade, including 162 officers, had surrendered near the steel factory.

Mariupol, which has been surrounded by Russian soldiers for weeks, has witnessed the worst combat and most extensive devastation since Russia commenced its military intervention in Ukraine on February 24.

On Thursday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed his countrymen for enduring a cruel 50-day Russian assault.

He called the struggle “a triumph of millions of Ukrainians.”The stubborn leader also congratulated “everyone who took the most crucial decision of their lives on February 24 – to fight.”

He went on to mock Russia, adding, “They didn’t realise how brave Ukrainians are, how much we respect freedom and the ability to live our lives as we see fit.”

His remarks came after an outpouring of global leaders begging for Zelensky to leave the nation.