The Admiral Kuznetsov has not been deployed for nearly eight years, making future missions increasingly unlikely, according to Forbes, citing analysts from the OSINT project Moklasen.
The article notes, "That helps explain why, in recent months, the Kremlin reportedly reassigned the aging ship’s sailors to the army and sent them into battle in Ukraine."
Read more: Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft Carrier Needs MiG-29K and Su-33 Pilots Trained From Scratch, russians Complain
Open-source analyst Moklasen was the first to report the reassignment of the approximately 1,500-person crew from the Kuznetsov. These sailors have formed a "frigate" mechanized battalion within the 1st Guards Tank Army, as concluded by Moklasen after examining russian social media for clues.
"It is not surprising that the russians are apparently pulling personnel from the Kuznetsov. The Kremlin is implementing extreme measures to mobilize the 30,000 fresh troops needed each month to replace battlefield losses—killed, wounded, and captured—in Ukraine," Forbes states.
Kuznetsov has completed only seven patrols since its launch in 1985 and commissioning in 1991. During its last deployment off Syria in 2016, two of its 24 jets were lost to accidents in three weeks.
These incidents began a series of mishaps. In October 2018, Kuznetsov was severely damaged when the drydock PD-50 sank during repairs. A fire broke out on the carrier in December 2019. Although fleet leaders considered decommissioning it, the Kremlin opted for repairs, planning a return to sea in 2022. However, another fire in December 2022 left Kuznetsov stuck in port for nearly two years.
While other navies might decommission a damaged ship and build a new carrier, russian industry likely lacks the capacity to replace Kuznetsov or any large warship, resulting in many larger vessels being former Soviet ships with significant wear and tear.
Read more: Admiral Kuznetsov is in Critical Condition, Russia Blames the Shipyard
