Vladimir Putin‘s only aircraft carrier – the hulking Admiral Kuznetsov – is poised to be scrapped after seven failed years of repairs, say reports.
Work on the jinxed ship, the largest in the Russian navy, has now been suspended despite the efforts to get it back in the water.
News outlet Izvestia cites sources saying the vessel is likely destined for the scrapheap.
Putin’s ‘Ship of Shame’ is languishing in dock in grim Arctic port Murmansk, and has played no role in the war against Ukraine.
It’s crew were quietly sent to fight in the war instead.
The 58,000-ton rust bucket – Putin’s only aircraft carrier – is now seen as likely never to go to sea again.
Former Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Sergey Avakyants called the decision to stop repair work ‘absolutely correct’.
He said today: ‘The aircraft carrier is already a fading era.
Vladimir Putin ‘s only aircraft carrier – the hulking Admiral Kuznetsov – is poised to be scrapped after seven failed years of repairs, say reports
Work on the jinxed ship, the largest in the Russian navy, has been suspended despite repeated efforts to get it back in the water
News outlet Izvestia cites sources saying the vessel is likely destined for the scrapheap. The 58,000-ton rust bucket – Putin’s only aircraft carrier – is now seen as likely never to go to sea again
The length of three football pitches, it has been hit by two fires while under repair, in 2019 and 2022, causing millions of pounds worth of damage
‘It is a very expensive and inefficient naval weapon.
‘The future belongs to carriers of robotic complexes and unmanned aviation.
‘And the Admiral Kuznetsov – if the decision is made not to continue repairs – should just be taken, cut up for scrap, and disposed of.’
‘Misfortunes continue to haunt the heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the only aircraft carrier in the Russian fleet that the Kremlin inherited from the USSR,’ reported The Moscow Times earlier.
‘Having been put under repair in 2018 after a voyage to the shores of Syria, Admiral Kuznetsov was never able to return to service on time, and its future remains unclear.’
The decrepit battleship – pride of the Russian Northern Fleet – was launched 40 years ago.
The length of three football pitches, it has been hit by two fires while under repair, in 2019 and 2022, causing millions of pounds worth of damage.
The ship used to carry up to 28 planes (Su-33 and MiG-29) and 17 helicopters (Ka-52K and Ka-27), and was armed with P-700 Granit missiles. Its crew should number 1,500.
Putin’s ‘Ship of Shame’ is languishing in dock in grim Arctic port Murmansk, and has played no role in the war against Ukraine
The length of three football pitches, it has been hit by two fires while under repair, in 2019 and 2022, causing millions of pounds worth of damage. Pictured: Fire engulfs the Admiral Kuznetsov in December 2019, in which two men lost their lives
Pictured: Smoke billows from the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier during a fire in Murmansk, Russia, Thursday, December 12, 2019
The 2019 blaze saw two men lose their lives and 14 others treated for smoke inhalation.
One crewman, Oleg Sosedov, 21, who served on the aircraft carrier, was last year reported to have gone missing during a Russian attack in Kharkiv.
Missing too was Ivan Akenchenkov, 51, and Sergey Ovsienko, 30, also crew members of the Admiral Kuznetsov.
The flagship of Russia’s Northern Fleet, the Admiral Kuznetsov – commissioned in 1990 – has been involved in naval convoys passing the British coast.
It used to carry up to 28 planes (Su-33 and MiG-29) and 17 helicopters (Ka-52K and Ka-27), and was armed with P-700 Granit missiles.
Its crew should number 1,500.
It comes after in 2023 the Admiral Kuznetsov was said to in such a ruinous state that it would sink if it were to sail again.
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry stated the Admiral Kuznetsov is in such ‘a state of emergency’ that it ‘cannot move under its own power’.
The decrepit battleship – pride of the Russian Northern Fleet – was launched 40 years ago
One crewman, Oleg Sosedov, 21, who served on the aircraft carrier, was last year reported to have gone missing during a Russian attack in Kharkiv
Missing too was Ivan Akenchenkov (pictured), 51, and Sergey Ovsienko, 30, also crew members of the Admiral Kuznetsov
The ministry noted that a decision had been made to transfer the ship to the docks of a ship repair plant.
However, it soon became clear the cruiser was not able to move without assistance.
Attempts to tug the boat failed due to the poor condition of the ship’s hull – which divers found was suffering deep corrosion below the third deck.
The holds were also found to be filled with muddy water, making an internal check impossible.
According to Ukraine, ship repair specialists warned the condition of Admiral Kuznetsov makes it impossible for it to launch and if it does, ‘it is highly likely that it will tip over on its side and [sink].’
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