The article "Sink "Moskva": unknown details. How Ukrainian Neptune destroyed the flagship of the Russian fleet" reads this.
"Almost no one knows about it, but the first combat use of Neptune missile complex did not take place in April, but in the first days of Russian full-scale invasion. It was when three Russian amphibious ships moved out of the ports in Crimea and headed towards the Ukrainian coast in the Mykolaiv region. Landing of Russian troops in this area would give them a springboard to attack both Mykolaiv and Odesa. First three Neptune missiles were launched to destroy these ships," the article says.
According to interlocutor in military circles related to Neptune project, first launches were from the south of Odesa region, and were launched in direction of Mykolaiv.
"Therefore, missiles had to pass over Odesa and, in order to make it safe for the city, they were launched not at a height of 5-6 meters above the water, as it should be, but somewhere at 120 meters. It is obvious that Russian troops detected them and most likely destroyed them. It's interesting that they even shot down their own plane, which was hunting Neptune missiles in that area," interlocutor said.
The article reports that it was not possible to determine exactly what day it was, but it happened no later than February 26. It was on that day when the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff issued an official statement that a Russian warship had shot down its own plane over Black Sea.
Interlocutors reported that none of Neptunes hit their target, but Russian amphibious ships, startled by the very possibility of such missile strikes, turned around and escaped to Crimea.
"Their "perplexity" can be understood. After all, Neptune missiles were not supposed to be in service with Ukrainian Armed Forces at the end of February. After successful state tests in 2020, Neptune missiles were adopted, but in reality the project was put on hold. Only at the end of that year, in particular, after the meeting of Oleh Korostelyov, head of Luch Design Bureau, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, authorities found money for Neptune' complexes at the President's personal request. First full-fledged complex on the new Tatra chassis was assembled in August 2021 before the 30th anniversary of Ukrainian Independence Day parade," the article says.