User:Yadsalohcin/Anton Kuprin

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NB an Article of this name was previously considered for deletion, terminated with a merge. Since the start of that debate, considerable further material has emerged, suggesting that Kuprin is known for more than just a single event. The previous debate is here: Articles for deletion/Anton Kuprin Article for deletion/dated|page=Anton Kuprin|timestamp=20220416161339|year=2022|month=April|day=16|substed=yes|help=off}}

Captain 1st rank Anton Valerievich Kuprin (Антон Валерьевич Куприн) (born August 3, 1978) is a Russian Navy officer. He was the commander of the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, Moskva, when it sunk on April 14, 2022.

Summary

 * ???? - 2016 RKR "Moskva", senior assistant to the commander
 * 2016-2020 "Admiral Essen", commander (16/12/2016- )
 * 2020-2022 RKR "Moskva", commander

Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation
Kuprin took part in the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war
As commander of Admiral Essen, Kuprin took part in the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war. The ship was based in the Crimean Autonomous Republic at Sevastopol but with periods of 'exercises' in the Eastern Mediterranean, during the course of which the vessel launched cruise missiles at Syria

2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine
As commander of Moskva, Kuprin took part in naval operations in support of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine- See below:

Action at Snake Island
During the Attack on Snake Island, Kuprin, commanding the Moskva, requested the garrison of Zmiinyi Island to surrender, to which one of the soldiers replied: "Russian warship, go fuck yourself". After this, Kuprin gave the order to shell the island. Russian Naval Infantry then took the island and captured the garrison.

Sinking
On 13 April, the Moskva suffered a fire and a munitions explosion 65 nautical miles off the coast of Ukraine. After the fire was put out, other Russian Navy vessels attempted to tow the ship back to its port of destination, but the ship sunk due to previous damage. Ukraine claims it struck the ship with 2 Neptune anti-ship missiles. After the Moskva sunk, Ukrainian officials claimed that Kuprin was killed when the ship went down. A few days later, the Russian Ministry of Defence released a video allegedly showing the crew of the Moskva, including a man who looked like Kuprin, taking part in a 'survivor's parade'. Serious doubts have been raised however about the age of the video, and its authenticity.

Awards and honours
According to the article at the Ukrainian Wikipedia (which cites visibility of ribbons in a photograph), Kuprin has received the following awards:
 * Medal "For the Return of Crimea"
 * Медаль «Участнику военной операции в Сирии»
 * Ushakov Medal

Subject of sanctions
Kuprin was sanctioned by a number of European nations, including Britain on 21 April 2022.