Summary and Key Points: Reports have emerged that Russia has formed a mechanized battalion from the crew of its flagship aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, and deployed them to the frontlines in Ukraine.

-The carrier has been undergoing an extended refit for the past seven years, and the reassignment of its crew raises questions about the vessel's future operational status.

-With the ship's refurbishment facing delays and challenges, including a lack of experienced sailors due to retirements and reassignments, the deployment suggests that Admiral Kuznetsov may not return to service soon.

-This move could indicate broader personnel shortages within the Russian military amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Russia Deploys Admiral Kuznetsov Crew to Ukraine Amid Carrier Delays

One benefit of being a sailor assigned to the Russian Navy flagship aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in the past seven years is that they didn't have to be deployed for months on a floating deathtrap. The crew has largely just waited for the ship to complete its odyssey of a refit, but some members are being reassigned.

However, instead of heading to sea on another warship, the Kremlin has "formed a mechanized battalion from the crew." Those troops are now being deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine, the UK Defence Journal reported, citing an open-source intelligence researcher.

"Russia formed a new 'Frigate' mechanized battalion using Navy personnel ( / 78987).  Initially, they were on the Kharkiv border, but have since been moved to the Pokrovsk front. They are the 3rd btn of the 245th MRR, 1st GTA, but there are links to the new DPR 51st CAA too," @moklasen posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The news that Russia formed an infantry unit from the crew of the flagship carrier follows other reports from last month that the Kremlin has employed Aerospace forces in the Kursk.

As previously reported, the newly formed Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Aerospace Force was comprised of engineers, mechanics, and other servicemen with little frontline combat training.

Not Exactly Naval Infantry

How much training the crew from Admiral Kuznetsov has received isn't clear, but it wouldn't be the first time that sailors have been employed as infantry. The Soviet Navy's Naval Infantry conducted more than 122 amphibious operations during the Second World War but also fought as regular infantry – notably at the Battle of Stalingrad and the defense of Leningrad.

During the Cold War, the Naval Infantry was reformed – becoming a combat arm of the Soviet Navy and receiving advanced training in infantry tactics. It is unlikely the crew from the carrier has undergone any significant training and it likely has little to no experience in frontline combat.

What Does It Mean For the Aircraft Carrier?

The other question is what this means for the future of Admiral Kuznetsov. There has been speculation that the vessel could be returned to the Russian Navy sometime later this year, which seems increasingly unlikely, or sometime next year.

However, even if the ship does somehow finally come out of drydock, there had been previous reports that Russia lacked experienced sailors to operate the warship. As the ship last deployed in early 2017, the Russian Navy hasn't carried out any carrier operations in seven years – meaning that even those still assigned to the flattop are likely "rusty" and given regular retirements and reassignments, the Kremlin faces a situation where it lacks sailors with experience to serve on the carrier.

Sending even a fraction of the trained crew to fight (and likely die) in Ukraine will only serve to worsen the problem. This could simply be an indication that Admiral Kuznetsov will never return to service, and the Kremlin simply hasn't announced that fact yet.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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