The 'Moskva Sinking' meme originated in April 2022 following the destruction of the Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, during the invasion of Ukraine. While official Russian sources initially claimed the ship suffered a fire and sank during a storm while being towed, Ukrainian forces reported a successful Neptune missile strike. The internet quickly seized on the event, creating memes that humorously reclassified the cruiser as a new submarine or part of a 'special underwater operation.' The meme is widely used to symbolize the unexpected failure of perceived power, military irony, and the spirit of defiance that characterized the early stages of the conflict.