Thread by @GrangerE04117

Initial analysis on the images:

In the images of Moskva after the hit. The damage and the active fire seems to originate in the amidships of the ship where the chimney is located and two of the six AK-630s are located.

Some people suggest it is where the two missiles hit it.

If that is indeed the case, then the ship's survival would be slim to begin with.

For starters, directly below the chimney and the secondary radar mast is where the propulsion and electrical power machinery is located for the Slava-class.

In this highlighted image of the cross section, we can see the bow and aft powerplants (yellow) presumably for power generation, then the two gas turbine engines for cruise and high speed (orange).

But what about the red box? What is it?

It is called the Пост энергетики и живучести (ПЭЖ) or "Post of Energy and Survivability" (PEZH).

The purpose of the room is to manage the energy (both electrical and propulsion) and also acts as the Damage Control HQ for the ship.

(Left: PEZH of Project 1135 / Krivak).

PEZH's of Russian warships are typically located near the propulsion and power machineries which are placed at the amidships.

Left: Cesar Kunikov (Ropucha), Right: Uglich (Buyan-M)

My hypothesis is that the two Neptune AShM hit the amidships taking with it the propulsion, power compartments and disabling the power and damage control station room in the process.

Which makes fighting the fires harder to do with DCHQ out and power possibly out too.

Thanks to Vepr157 of the r/Submarines for confirming what the ПЭЖ stands for in Apalkov's book. It was a major key for the hypothesis to make sense.

@ameliairheart @RALee85 @TayfunOzberk @KaptainLOMA @BA_Friedman @CovertShores @Capt_Navy @vcdgf555

To add, the Ukrainians would have known about the location of the PEZH of Moskva.

Its sistership that is laid up in Mykolaiv, Ukraina has the exact same internal layout. Even in its unserviceable state, they knew where the central command post for the damage control is.