Russia abandons restoration of nuclear cruiser Pyotr Velikiy due to wear

Fleet flagship has lost combat value

The Russian side has decided not to carry out the restoration of the nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy. The main reason is the critical wear of the vessel, which makes any investment in its repair unjustified.

As reported by Russian media, even its own specialists acknowledge that the ship is not amenable to effective renewal.

Preliminary commission conclusion

Vladimir Maltsiev, head of the All-Russian Fleet Support Movement, confirmed this information.

«Крейсер не підлягає відновленню. У корабля є певний ступінь зношеності» (The cruiser is not subject to restoration. The ship has a certain degree of wear), he stated.

At the same time, Maltsiev clarified that this is only a preliminary conclusion of the commission, and no final decision has been announced yet.

History of changes in plans regarding the cruiser

The possible decommissioning of the Pyotr Velikiy was discussed as early as 2023. At that time, experts linked this to the unsuccessful experience of the prolonged repair of another cruiser — the Admiral Nakhimov.

Later, these rumours were denied. It was claimed that the ship remains in the combat formation of the Northern Fleet and is being prepared for repair and modernisation. However, the actual condition of the military equipment forced a review of these plans.

Ship characteristics

The Pyotr Velikiy is considered the largest warship and flagship of the aggressor country's fleet. It is one of the largest military ships in the world, excluding aircraft carriers. At least it was.

The cruiser was launched in 1988, but was fully commissioned into the Russian Navy only in 1998. The hull length is 250 metres, and the full displacement is 25,000 tonnes. The total crew complement is 744 people.