Russian Navy denies reports of damage to Black Sea Fleet flagship

The Navy earlier acknowledged that smoke filled one of the auxiliary compartments of the warship on September 7, but said its source was quickly found and contained. No one was hurt in the incident.

"Several media sources speculated, citing different sources, that the Moskva missile cruiser of the Black Sea Fleet will be sent from Sevastopol to a shipyard in Nikolayev [Ukraine] for repairs after the alleged damage. This information is untrue. The Moskva cruiser remains ready for combat," the Navy's press service said late on Thursday.

"The crew of the warship will fix the faulty systems at its current location at a berth [in the Sevastopol naval base] within a few days," the press service said in a statement.

The Moskva is a Slava-class missile cruiser designed as a surface strike ship with some anti-aircraft and ASW capability.

The ship has 16 SS-N-12 Sandbox nuclear-capable supersonic anti-ship missiles, mounted in four pairs on each side.