the initial impact may have killed some people, but no way the sinking did. There wasn’t a single man in the water as it sunk being towed. Surely they had all been removed from the ship way before it started being towed.
Guesstimating from the reporting from this article (a risky business as the Guardian’s sources are questionable), the immediate loss of life may be lower than first guesses.
The russians displayed 150 - 250 “survivors.” It is possible every man in that formation was a survivor of the moskva sinking. But it is also possible that little vlad slipped a few extras in, too.
The article quotes a witness as saying there were 200 wounded. But who knows how accurate that count is?
The general consensus seems to be that the ship had a crew of a little over 500. Let’s call it 510.
From these (very shaky numbers), about 60 - 160 men immediately lost their lives.
But 200 “badly wounded” men could result easily in many score more deaths, especially if most of them have very serious burns, as recovery from very severe burns is dicey, and requires the highest standards of care.
Assuming a little deception on little vlad’s part
(slipping in 100 or more extras to the display of “survivors), and assuming a little pessimism on the fate of the wounded, the final count could be 400+.
Needless to say, total loss of life was catastrophically tragic.
For me, contemplating this unnecessary tragedy, all I can do is pray.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let Your perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed
rest in peace.
Amen.