The “Admiral Kuznetsov”, Russia’s only aircraft carrier, has apparently foundered. The warship has been at the Murmansk shipyard in northern Russia for maintenance since 2017 and should be repaired by the summer of 2024, according to Russian state media. However, according to Ukrainian information, it now appears that the ship will not be able to leave the port in the foreseeable future.
This cannot be independently verified at this time and there is no confirmation from the Russian side.
Ukraine reports major problems
As Ukrainian military intelligence HUR reports via Telegram, the “Admiral Kuznetsov” was actually supposed to be moved to a new dock for repair work. During the preparations for the move, it turned out that the aircraft carrier was not roadworthy.
Therefore, an attempt was made to move the ship with the help of tugs. However, this proved impossible due to the critical condition of the hull. According to Ukrainian sources, ship repair specialists have warned that if the “Admiral Kuznetsov” tries to launch the ship, there is a high probability that it will capsize and sink.
Dive teams then examined the ship’s hull and found that the metal structures below the third deck had corroded. In addition, the cargo holds are completely filled with muddy water, so that the ship cannot be viewed from the inside.
Pointing the finger to each other
Officials from the shipyard and fleet management blame each other for the current situation, according to Ukrainian military intelligence. In the chaos, it was not possible to understand who made the decision to move the ship, it said.
Apparently, the fleet command imposed fines of one and a half billion rubles on the management of the plant for not meeting the repair deadlines and not fulfilling the contract. The management of the yard, in turn, stated in a letter that the yard was not to blame for the deplorable condition of the ship. The Ukrainian information on the current condition of the ship cannot be independently verified.
The “Admiral Kuznetsov” was launched in 1991. In 2017, the aircraft carrier should be repaired and fully modernized. It has been in the shipyard in Murmansk ever since. In 2018, the ship suffered a leak when a floating dock sank. A year later, the “Admiral Kuznetsov” caught fire. Two people died and 14 were injured. Since then, repairs have continued. Actually, the warship should sail again in 2021.
(dpa, t-online)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
