Russia's only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov to be cut into scrap metal and disposed of

Russia is going to abandon further repairs to russia's only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, which has been under repair since 2018. This is reported by the russian publication Izvestia.

Thus, currently, representatives of the Main Command of the Naval Forces (Navy) and the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), which was engaged in the restoration of the cruiser, are currently discussing whether to return the aircraft carrier to the fleet's combat composition, the publication's interlocutor noted. In russia, they say that the aircraft carrier is a very expensive and ineffective weapon.

Former commander of the Pacific Fleet Admiral Sergei Avakyants called the refusal to continue repair work "absolutely correct."

In his opinion, the russian fleet does not even need a modernized Admiral Kuznetsov.

"The aircraft carrier is an era that is already passing. It is a very expensive and ineffective naval weapon. The future belongs to carriers of robotic complexes and unmanned aircraft. And the Admiral Kuznetsov, if a decision is made not to continue the repair, it remains only to take it, cut it into scrap metal and dispose of it," Avakyants said.

But russian strategic documents also provide for the presence of an aircraft carrier formation in the Northern and Pacific Fleets, and the issue of restoring the Admiral Kuznetsov is primarily financial, because difficulties may arise with this due to the war in Ukraine.

"The question is different - in financing, taking into account the fact that a special military operation is currently underway. The main thing now is victory in the North-Eastern Front, and there it will be clear what needs to be built further," emphasized russian Rear Admiral Chekmasov.

Admiral Kuznetsov is designed to destroy large surface targets, protect naval units from enemy attacks, and support amphibious operations. The russian aircraft carrier is notorious for spewing thick black smoke, a sign of its outdated fuel-oil-powered power plant. It was built at a shipyard in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, and was named Leonid Brezhnev during the Soviet era. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the aircraft-carrying cruiser was part of the Black Sea Fleet stationed in Crimea and was supposed to be transferred to the Ukrainian Navy. However, russian sailors actually hijacked it.

Recall that the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine confirms that russia's only aircraft-carrying cruiser, Admiral Kuznetsov, is in "serious" condition. The russian Navy command is demanding a RUB 1.5 billion fine from the management of the ship repair yard for failing to meet the ship's repair deadlines and failing to fulfill the contract.

On Thursday, December 22, a fire broke out on board the russian Navy's aircraft carrier cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov. The ship is undergoing repairs at the Zvezdochka shipyard in Murmansk.