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The Russian Navy will retire the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier due to ongoing mechanical failures and the loss of its primary drydock, the PD-50, which sank in 2018. The decision aligns with Russia's strategic shift towards unmanned systems as it focuses on the war in Ukraine.

The retirement means Russia will be the only permanent UN Security Council member without an active carrier. Efforts are now directed at salvaging the PD-50, with a contract for an underwater inspection worth 240 million rubles ($2.6 million USD) recently signed. The future of the Kuznetsov remains uncertain, whether it will be scrapped or sold.