These destroyer were designated as 'Leader'. Three ships were built (1 operated in the Baltic and 2 in the Black Sea). Three more ships of the succeeding Minsk class were nearly identical. The armament of 45mm AA guns was replaced by the 37mm type in 1941.

Leader "Moskva" was laid down 29 Oct 1932 at Nikolayev; launched 30 Oct 1934; commissioned 8 October 1938; operated in the Black Sea.

The war has found "Moskva" in Sevastopol. June 25, 1941, according to the order of Glavkom, the Black Sea fleet has begun performance of operation on drawing impact on Constance - port and main base of the Romanian fleet.

At 9 o'clock in the evening the leaders of "Kharkov" and "Moskva" send from Sevastopol. In area of a beacon on Chersonesus cape leaders with speed of 28 knots were directed on Odessa (for a deceit of air investigation of the opponent). With approach of darkness at 21.15 leaders have changed a rate and were directed to Constance - to the main port of Romania.

In the agreed time - 5.00 - the leaders have turned on a rate 221° and have increased a course up to 26 knots. In two minutes the ships send in a point of turn on a battle rate and have developed a course of 28 knots. The leader "Moskva" and leader of "Kharkov" has opened fire of main calibre - shooting from all of five guns of the ship with an interval per 10 seconds. Fire was conducted without updating, but after the first shots on a coast there was a flame of the large fire in area of petroleum tanks.

At 5.04 answer-back fire on the leaders was opened poorly distinct in morning on a background of a coast 2 Romanian destroyers. The Romanian destroyers slowly moved on north. At 5.06 on the head leader have noticed two cannon flares of 280-mm of the coastal artillery battery "Tirpic".

"Moskva", having stopped at 5.12 artillery fire and having put a smoke, sharply has turned on a rate of a leaving. The unexpected turn of the leader has brought down aim shooting of the opponent. Behind of "Moskva" the zigzag went the leader of "Kharkov".

At 5.20 from the ships have noticed a trace of two torpedos going directly on "Moscow". From "Kharkov" have transferred to "Moskva" an order to increase speed and to go directly.

But in one minute at the moment of evasion from torpedos to the right above "Moskva" the pole of water has risen, of fire and smoke on height more than 30 meters (are higher than masts). The ship has remained without movement. 76-mm the gun continued shooting on the appeared plane of the opponent.

At once after explosion the following picture was presented. The plating and set of the case in area of 1-st and 2 boiler branches from the left board were destroyed. The ship gone almost 30-central speed, began to break in the middle.

Cracked in area of 1-st boiler branch a forward part by a flow of water has turned to a forage of the ship. Running cabin, first pipe and one mast have appeared in water. The sinking forward part of the ship carried away behind itself and fodder. The ship has remained without movement, but his machines still worked, and the left screw some time rotated in air.

In two minutes after explosion the forward part of the case has come off and quickly has sunk. Fodder still floated on a surface, and the people were on battle posts. The immersing of a fodder part quickly proceeded, and the assistant of the commander of the ship has submitted a team to leave the ship. Have given back the order to lower boats and have transferred on battle posts an order by all upward.

Time for a stop of machines of the ship any more did not remain. The crew of "Moskva" has left the sinking ship. So, the first fight of the leader "Moskva" in the World War II became for him and last.

There are some versions of the reasons of destruction of the leader "Moskva". The basic version of destruction of the ship - having undermined on the Romanian mine.

The second leader - "Kharkov" - has stopped in 200 metres and has begun rescue of crew of "Moskva". But because of bombardment of enemy coastal artillery and attack of aircraft it was compelled to refuse this attempt.

By evening 14 Romanian boats and the hydroplanes have picked up from water 69 men (7 officers and 62 sailors). The commander A.B. Tuhov in a unconscious condition has got in captivity.

The commanders of the ship were the captain 3 ranks A.I. Zubkov (since 10.08.1938), captain 3 ranks V.N. Eroshenko, captain-leytenant A.B. Tuhov (February, 1941 - 26.6.1941).