Citing informed sources, the Russian newspaper Izvestia reported last week that officials have suspended maintenance and modernization work on the Admiral Kuznetsov.
"The Russian Navy and the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), tasked with the repairs, will soon decide the Admiral Kuznetsov's fate. The Russian Ministry of Defense may decline further repairs. Experts do not rule out the possibility of decommissioning and scrapping the carrier," Izvestia reported.
The fate of the Admiral Kuznetsov continues to be a subject of debate within the Russian Navy.
Sergei Avakyants, former commander of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet, supports halting the Admiral Kuznetsov's refit, calling it a "completely correct step". "The Admiral Kuznetsov belongs to a different era and is an expensive and ineffective naval weapon. The future lies in robots and unmanned devices," he said.
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The Admiral Kuznetsov in Murmansk in 2019. Photo: RIA Novosti |
The Admiral Kuznetsov in Murmansk in 2019. Photo: RIA Novosti
Meanwhile, retired Rear Admiral Mikhail Chekmasov noted that many of the Russian Navy's strategic documents still call for carrier strike groups in both the Pacific and Northern Fleets.
"The biggest obstacle is financial, especially with the special military operation in Ukraine ongoing. Victory on the battlefield is the immediate priority, after which future shipbuilding plans will become clearer," he said.
Russian military expert Vasily Dandykin argued that long-range force deployments still require air support, specifically from carrier-based fighters, asserting that unmanned systems cannot fulfill this role.
"Countries like China and India are expanding their carrier fleets, indicating these vessels will continue to play an important role in naval strategy," he said.
The Russian Navy has not commented on the report, while USC stated the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The Admiral Kuznetsov, built and commissioned during the Soviet era, is the Russian Navy's only aircraft carrier. Moscow classifies it as a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser, but it is widely considered a full-fledged aircraft carrier.
The Admiral Kuznetsov has been undergoing maintenance and modernization since 2017, following its deployment in Russia's military intervention in Syria. The initial plan was to complete the refit by 2021, with a preliminary cost of 20 billion rubles (257 million USD).
The program's scope was reportedly reduced soon after, raising questions about the warship's future. During the overhaul, the ship suffered several fires and a drydock sinking. Analysis of satellite imagery in early 2021 suggested that repair work had been stalled for about a year.
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The Admiral Kuznetsov in a shipyard in 2023. Photo: Google Earth |
The Admiral Kuznetsov in a shipyard in 2023. Photo: Google Earth
In 2/2023, the Admiral Kuznetsov left the floating drydock at a shipyard in Murmansk province. However, the crew was apparently disbanded two months later, marking another setback in efforts to return it to service.
"Rebuilding a crew for an aircraft carrier is always a major challenge. This task is now much more difficult for Russia due to widespread personnel shortages stemming from the conflict in Ukraine," wrote Thomas Newdick of the American military website War Zone.
Pham Giang (According to Izvestia, Moscow Times, War Zone)
