By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Russia is reportedly considering retiring and scrapping its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, after years of costly repairs and setbacks. The vessel, plagued by mechanical failures and accidents since its launch in 1990, has been undergoing an extensive overhaul since 2018 with repeated delays. With the work suspended, discussions are now underway between the Russian Navy and shipbuilding authorities. Experts believe the carrier is outdated, and its retirement would leave Russia without an operational carrier, prompting debate about future naval capabilities and priorities.
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Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia’s only aircraft carrier, set to be scrapped after years of setbacks, and honestly, it’s hard to be surprised. Considering the persistent challenges and the sheer cost of keeping this floating behemoth afloat, it feels like the inevitable conclusion to a long and troubled story. It’s a bit of a bummer, really. Many remember the stories of its misadventures over the years, and for some, there’s a perverse kind of enjoyment in hearing about its next mishap.
Let’s be honest, the Admiral Kuznetsov has been more of a liability than an asset. It was a huge drain on Russian finances, and the maintenance history is, to put it mildly, “insane.” Remember the random dock destructions and fires? Those incidents just added to the narrative of woe. The sailors were reportedly sent to Ukraine months ago, and honestly, it’s a relief they’re safe and away from this aging vessel.
There’s a bit of irony here too. You’ve got the Russian air force proving to be less than stellar, and now the navy is potentially going to be without a carrier at all. Makes you wonder about Russia’s image on the global stage. But honestly, it’s just a sign of the financial and infrastructural issues facing Russia.
The potential for a scrap is also a sign of the reality that has begun to set in. This is a country that likes to suffer unnecessarily and perhaps the failure in Ukraine only exacerbated the issue. A lot of people are going to be making a lot of money.
It’s no secret that this ship has never been fully up to scratch. Some have raised concerns about whether the French were in part to blame for some issues. But as some have mentioned, drone carriers might be the future. But the focus should be on making sure those assets are being delivered to Ukraine.
The real issue is the history of mismanagement and corruption that often plagues Russian projects. The fact that it is “considering” scrapping the Admiral Kuznetsov, or is “on the brink of” feels like a formality. The most likely scenarios are almost certainly going to be messy and expensive. We could see a multi-billion dollar upgrade package, or scrapping fees that spiral out of control. And perhaps, after all is said and done, Russia will announce another aircraft carrier that will do all of the things that Kuznetsov never managed.
Some believe that the carrier is more useful for show than for any real military purpose. This is probably right. And you have to wonder what the future holds for the Russian navy after this. They’ve lost the Black Sea fleet war to a country that doesn’t even have a navy. Perhaps this entire situation is just a testament to how underdeveloped the Russian Navy is when compared to other countries like the US. But one thing is for sure. If you don’t have the resources to be a world power, you can’t just boast about it. And in this case, that is precisely what they did.