19FortyFive: Russia May Decommission Admiral Kuznetsov
Admiral Kuznetsov Could Be Taken Out of Service, Report Says
19FortyFive: Russia May Decommission Admiral Kuznetsov
19FortyFive reports Russia may decommission its only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, opting for preservation after an eight-year modernization effort.
2026-02-20T15:59:04+03:00
2026-02-20T15:59:04+03:00
2026-02-20T15:59:04+03:00
Russia’s Navy may soon lose its only aircraft carrier — the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, 19FortyFive columnist Christian Orr wrote.
According to the author, the Russian Navy appears to be preparing to decommission Admiral Kuznetsov, choosing to place the ship into preservation rather than continue what he described as a failed eight-year modernization program. Orr claimed that a number of naval experts consider such a decision «absolutely correct.» As one example, he cited former Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Sergey Avakyants.
The article also recalls that earlier The National Interest ranked Admiral Kuznetsov fifth in a global list of the largest aircraft carriers ever operated.
In January, 19FortyFive columnist Steve Balestrieri said that Russia’s only aircraft carrier was doomed from the start and described it as a «smoking heap of wreckage.»
Admiral Kuznetsov, Russian Navy, 19FortyFive, Christian Orr, aircraft carrier, decommissioning, modernization program, Sergey Avakyants, The National Interest, Steve Balestrieri
2026
Fred Turner
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Admiral Kuznetsov Could Be Taken Out of Service, Report Says
19FortyFive reports Russia may decommission its only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, opting for preservation after an eight-year modernization effort.
Russia’s Navy may soon lose its only aircraft carrier — the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, 19FortyFive columnist Christian Orr wrote.
According to the author, the Russian Navy appears to be preparing to decommission Admiral Kuznetsov, choosing to place the ship into preservation rather than continue what he described as a failed eight-year modernization program. Orr claimed that a number of naval experts consider such a decision «absolutely correct.» As one example, he cited former Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Sergey Avakyants.
The article also recalls that earlier The National Interest ranked Admiral Kuznetsov fifth in a global list of the largest aircraft carriers ever operated.
In January, 19FortyFive columnist Steve Balestrieri said that Russia’s only aircraft carrier was doomed from the start and described it as a «smoking heap of wreckage.»
