14 July 2025
No formal request has yet been lodged by the Russian Navy or government, but Russian media and open-source chatter are openly discussing the idea of asking China either to (a) take the Admiral Kuznetsov to a Chinese yard for major repairs or (b) sell Russia the Liaoning—the very ship that began life as the Soviet-era Varyag .
Why the talk is surfacing now
The Russian authorities officially suspended the overhaul of Admiral Kuznetsov on 11 July 2025 after seven years of fires, dock accidents and missed deadlines . Murmansk’s 35th Ship Repair Plant has stopped work and the fleet is debating whether to scrap the ship .
Chinese yard as a last resort?
Russian nationalist forums (e.g., r/Sino) have floated the idea that a Chinese refit would be “a heck of a lot cheaper” than trying to resuscitate the Kuznetsov at home . However, Russian naval officers have long ruled out towing the carrier all the way to China: its propulsion is unreliable, the Suez route is politically sensitive, and the Northern Sea Route would require icebreaker escort .
Political optics
Openly handing its only carrier to China for repairs would be a major blow to Russian prestige, given that China’s first carrier is literally the Kuznetsov’s half-sister. Moscow’s current line—voiced by former Pacific Fleet chief Admiral Avakyants—is that “classic carriers are obsolete” and Russia should instead invest in drones and missile ships .
Bottom line: discussion exists, but no official request has been made; the Kuznetsov remains moored and unfinished in Murmansk while Russia weighs scrapping versus an improbable Chinese lifeline.
