After Ukrainian missile attack, Russia reports its Black Sea flagship sank while being towed

KYIV, Ukraine — As Russia warned Finland and Sweden against joining NATO, its military was dealt a serious loss with the sinking of its flagship in the Black Sea even as its ground forces are preparing a major offensive to take a large swath of eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials in the port city of Odesa reported overnight that a Neptune missile had been launched at the Russian ship, the Moskva, which has been part of the naval campaign against Ukraine. There were conflicting reports as to whether one or two missiles were fired at the ship.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said he could not confirm that a Ukrainian missile struck the ship, only that there had been an explosion on board that caused a fire, “which as of this morning was