UK Defence Journal

By George Allison

21 September 2024

Source: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/russian-aircraft-carrier-crew-sent-to-frontline-in-ukraine/

In a surprising development, Russia has formed a mechanised battalion from the crew of its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov.

This new unit is reportedly involved in ground operations in Ukraine, according to open-source intelligence researcher Moklasen on X (formerly Twitter).

Initially stationed in the Kharkiv region, the battalion has since been redeployed to the Pokrovsk sector, according to the Ukrainian military.

The formation of the battalion came to light after a message was shared on Russian social media platform Vkontakte, requesting help in locating personnel from military unit 78987.

This unit recently gained attention following the disappearance of Oleg Sosedov, a sailor from the Admiral Kuznetsov, who went missing during a Russian operation in the Kharkiv region in July. 

Sosedov, also linked to the battalion, was last seen during an assault on the frontier village of Sotnytskii Kozachok.

Additionally, reports indicate that Russia is also forming infantry units from members of its Aerospace Forces, with these new units playing a role in battles around Kursk.

One incident occurred in October 2018 when the PD-50 drydock, housing the carrier, sank, damaging the vessel and killing a worker. A crane collapse caused significant damage to the flight deck, further delaying the repair process. The carrier was later moved to the 35th Ship Repair Plant in Murmansk.

The difficulties continued. In December 2019, a major fire broke out onboard, killing two workers and injuring more than a dozen others, adding to the delays. Initially expected to return to service by 2023, the completion of repairs has been repeatedly postponed, with current estimates suggesting the ship may not be handed over to the Russian Navy until 2024 or 2025.

Despite these ongoing setbacks, Russian officials remain optimistic about the eventual return of the Admiral Kuznetsov to active duty. Repair work has continued since the ship was dry-docked in May 2022, with upgrades focusing on avionics and power systems.

However, another fire in December 2022 has raised additional concerns about whether the ship will meet its revised schedule for completion. However, with the recent news that the crew has been redeployed to form a mechanised battalion in Ukraine, the handover of the Admiral Kuznetsov now seems unlikely to proceed without a crew.