--- title: "Russia’s Cursed Aircraft Carrier Is Finally In A Drydock That Can’t Sink" date: "2022-05-20" modified: "2022-05-20" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/russias-cursed-carrier-is-finally-in-a-drydock-that-cant-sink" categories: - "Admiral Kuznetsov" - "Around The Globe" - "Carriers" - "Europe" - "Kuznetsov Class (and variants)" - "Navies" - "News & Features" - "Russia" - "Russian Navy" - "Sea" --- # Russia’s Cursed Aircraft Carrier Is Finally In A Drydock That Can’t Sink ![A picture showing the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov inside a new drydock at the 35th Shipyard in Murmansk overlaid on a satellite image of the drydock.]() *via @TheShipYard2 / PHOTO © 2022 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION* Pictures have emerged online today showing that Russia's lone aircraft carrier *[Admiral Kuznetsov]()* has finally been moved into a drydock at [the Sevmorput Naval Shipyard](), also known as Shipyard Number 35 or the 35th Shipyard, in the country's northwestern Murmansk region. The flattop has been languishing in port there for more than three years after the massive floating drydock PD-50 [suddenly sank underneath the ship]() as it was undergoing a major overhaul. The vessel was moved to a pier after the accident and then [also suffered a serious fire]() just over a year later. Russian state media outlet TASS [reported last week]() that the *Kuznestov*'s transfer into a newly expanded drydock at Sevmorput was imminent, citing anonymous defense industry sources. Those same individuals said that the current goal is to have the carrier's overhaul finally completed no later than September. Some limited work on *Kuznestov* continued after the sinking of PD-50 in October 2018. https://twitter.com/TheShipYard2/status/1527581262826745856?s=20&t=O7Sb3j6D-n84oDhE35plUg https://twitter.com/GrangerE04117/status/1527575884684996609?s=20&t=B8ZUiMxSBZn_Id2otipmxg More than a year ago, work began to create a new drydock at the 35th Shipyard [to form a single basin]() that would be large enough to accommodate *Kuznetsov*. As can be seen in the satellite images from Planet Labs below, the construction entailed joining together two smaller drydocks and then also building out an extended enclosed basin in front of them. ![]() *Satellite images showing construction to create the enlarged drydock at the 35th Shipyard. PHOTO © 2022 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION* The loss of PD-50 had exposed significant Russian naval shipyard infrastructure deficiencies with no other remaining Russian Navy drydock being big enough for the carrier, which was originally built in what is now independent Ukraine. There were subsequent discussions about linking smaller floating [drydocks together or sending *Kuznetsov*]() to Vladivostok in Russia's far east to make use of large commercial drydock there before the current course of action was settled upon. https://twitter.com/GrangerE04117/status/1409883363616473093?s=20&t=PaDM0nUhX8TQpUk3k9PUZA https://twitter.com/RussianPatrio17/status/1400145442835415041?s=20&t=s825yV4J6PKU6pBpDYI_zg https://twitter.com/GrangerE04117/status/1399906239983673346?s=20&t=3CYS4MKNEyhxBbqYGLVw6g https://twitter.com/GrangerE04117/status/1370477194149957634?s=20&t=3CYS4MKNEyhxBbqYGLVw6g https://twitter.com/GrangerE04117/status/1370477216161619969?s=20&t=3CYS4MKNEyhxBbqYGLVw6g The movement of *Kuznetsov* into the 35th Shipyard's new large drydock underscores the Russian government's continued desire to return the ship to service. However, the saga of this carrier, which has already been bedeviled by accidents and other issues for decades now, could be far from over. By all indications, the timelines for the construction of this expanded drydock and the final completion of *Kuznetsov's* overhaul [have been pushed back]() multiple times [in the past two years]() or so. The TASS report from last week said that if the schedule slips past September, the ship won't be able to even begin the necessary post-work sea trials until some time next year simply due to [seasonal ice around Murmansk](), which is situated just north of the Arctic Circle. There have been reports, supported by recent pictures of the drydock, including of it now with *Kuznetsov* inside, that Russian officials made the decision to move the ship inside despite construction not even being fully complete. The reported plan currently is to seal the ship inside manually since a purpose-built gate for the drydock has not yet been built. The water inside would then be pumped out. This entire process could take between two to three months on its own. https://twitter.com/GrangerE04117/status/1527575897527959552?s=20&t=B8ZUiMxSBZn_Id2otipmxg All of this can only continue to raise questions about whether the Russian government's insistence on retaining *Kuznestov* at all is a prudent use of funds and other resources that might otherwise be better allocated to other efforts, including the construction of new [large-deck amphibious assault ships](). *The War Zone* [has explored this in detail]() in the past. The time and effort, as well as cost, just to expand the drydock at the 35th Shipyard has to have been significant and is a considerable expenditure to support just one ship. At the same time, this does give the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet more immediate access to a larger drydocking facility in general, which could be used to work on multiple vessels at once, especially large surface combatants or submarines that might enter service in the future. There is also then the matter of how much it will cost to continue to operate and maintain the more than three-decade-old Kuznetsov, as well as a carrier air wing to go with it, if and when the carrier returns to service. Budget pressures, [together with supply chain issues](), are only likely to increase on Russia's military and the country's defense and shipbuilding enterprises in the near future due to crippling international sanctions imposed as a result of the invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. Regardless, for the time being, at least, Russian authorities clearly remain intent on returning *Kuznetsov* to service. It remains to be seen whether the ship's overhaul will proceed on schedule now that is finally inside a new drydock that can't sink. *Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com* ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]()