Russians Urge China To Return Soviet Aircraft Carrier Liaoning Bought From Ukraine

[beijingwalker]

Russians Urge China To Return Soviet Aircraft Carrier Liaoning Bought From Ukraine​

Launched in November 1988, the unfinished aircraft carrier Varyag sailed into Ukraine with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1992 and division of BSF assets between newly-independent states.​

Updated at : 07 Jan 2023 04:12 PM (IST)

A Russian politician has proposed to buy back from China the Soviet aircraft carrier sold to it by Ukraine and name it after the founder of the Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky who passed away last year. Sergey Karginov, the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Development of Far East and Arctic, made the appeal to Director of Russian Foreign Ministry's Asian and Pacific Cooperation Department Alexei Ovchinnikov.

Launched in November 1988, the unfinished Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Varyag sailed into Ukraine with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1992 and the division of the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) assets between newly-independent states.

In 1998, it was bought by China which termed it as just a pile of scrap metal and promised to convert it into a floating casino.

However, Beijing refined the vessel into its first aircraft carrier – renaming it first as Shi Lan and then Liaoning after its northeastern province - putting it into commission in 2012 as the dispute with Japan over the Senkaku Islands aggravated.

The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), which earlier suggested that Russian airline Aeroflot name one of its planes after Zhirinovsky, is now campaigning to bring back the Soviet-built aircraft-carrying cruiser.

"After the collapse of the country, Ukraine preferred to sell it in fact for a few bottles of vodka, at the price of scrap metal. Given the current situation, I propose to buy the ship from China, give it the name of the founder of the Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky and make it the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet," Karginov was quoted as saying by the Russian state media on Friday.

As China continues to expand and intensify its military activities at sea and in the air, it was reported last week that the Liaoning Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is currently operating in the East China Sea.

Russians Urge China To Return Soviet Aircraft Carrier Liaoning Bought From Ukraine

Launched in November 1988, the unfinished aircraft carrier Varyag sailed into Ukraine with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1992 and division of BSF assets between newly-independent states.

news.abplive.com

 

[renhai]

Russia only wants to buy Chinese aircraft carriers?

 

[etylo]

I dont think China wants to sell the carrier now, China did a lot of hardwork and improvements to bring the carrier to the state it is, it is very much needed and backbone of Chinese navy to train others and to use with full capability now, Shandong is not fully operational. China only has two carriers that are operational now. Plus, Russian navy doesnt have mordern destroyers to guide the carrier that will make it a sitting target for the enemy.

 

[GeHAC]

misleading title, i don't think a buy-back proposal equals 'urge'.

 

[Sam6536]

Russia is in a pinch their carrier is always in dock after suffering from fires or be dragged by a tugboat and that's their only aircraft carrier. Also in terms of support structure for the carrier Russia doesn't have a proper carrier group. They look more of a submarine leaning navy.

 

[beijingwalker]

Maybe in the future, but not now, but China surely can help Russia build some warships.

 

[beijingwalker]

Russia only wants to buy Chinese aircraft carriers?

View attachment 910096

Looks pretty crowded

 

[hyperman]

The politician is from Zhirinovsky's party, its a random comment from a fringe political party official. not really likely. the design is old anyways, Russians would be better off building one from scratch, though aircraft carriers is not what they need right now.

 

[type93]

China could just sell to them since China is already building larger carriers

 

[从八品主簿]

The Russians mostly use rocket launchers, incendiary bombs, and petrol bombs. The aircraft carrier is so expensive, it has no value at all.

 

[etylo]

China could just sell to them since China is already building larger carriers

China still needs the two of them for some time, they are still useful to Chinese navy, without the two carriers, China wont have any carriers for some time, thats not acceptable now. Until China builds 6 carriers, then China can sell them.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Russians Urge China To Return Soviet Aircraft Carrier Liaoning Bought From Ukraine​

Launched in November 1988, the unfinished aircraft carrier Varyag sailed into Ukraine with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1992 and division of BSF assets between newly-independent states.​

Updated at : 07 Jan 2023 04:12 PM (IST)

A Russian politician has proposed to buy back from China the Soviet aircraft carrier sold to it by Ukraine and name it after the founder of the Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky who passed away last year. Sergey Karginov, the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Development of Far East and Arctic, made the appeal to Director of Russian Foreign Ministry's Asian and Pacific Cooperation Department Alexei Ovchinnikov.

Launched in November 1988, the unfinished Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Varyag sailed into Ukraine with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1992 and the division of the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) assets between newly-independent states.

In 1998, it was bought by China which termed it as just a pile of scrap metal and promised to convert it into a floating casino.

However, Beijing refined the vessel into its first aircraft carrier – renaming it first as Shi Lan and then Liaoning after its northeastern province - putting it into commission in 2012 as the dispute with Japan over the Senkaku Islands aggravated.

The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), which earlier suggested that Russian airline Aeroflot name one of its planes after Zhirinovsky, is now campaigning to bring back the Soviet-built aircraft-carrying cruiser.

"After the collapse of the country, Ukraine preferred to sell it in fact for a few bottles of vodka, at the price of scrap metal. Given the current situation, I propose to buy the ship from China, give it the name of the founder of the Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky and make it the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet," Karginov was quoted as saying by the Russian state media on Friday.

As China continues to expand and intensify its military activities at sea and in the air, it was reported last week that the Liaoning Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is currently operating in the East China Sea.

Russians Urge China To Return Soviet Aircraft Carrier Liaoning Bought From Ukraine

Launched in November 1988, the unfinished aircraft carrier Varyag sailed into Ukraine with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1992 and division of BSF assets between newly-independent states.

news.abplive.com

I guess the russian are tired of "old smokey" now

 

[MultaniGuy]

I am for a rising China.

China will never sell their aircraft carriers. Its too late now for the Russians.

 

[applesauce]

The politician is from Zhirinovsky's party, its a random comment from a fringe political party official. not really likely. the design is old anyways, Russians would be better off building one from scratch, though aircraft carriers is not what they need right now.

yea, just politicians doing politician things.
that said, its well known that russia is having a ton of problems just trying to refurb adm Kuznetsov. I highly doubt they can build a brand new 65,000 ton carrier, not without massive upgrades to their ship yards anyhow. could maybe build smaller ones. but really carriers are a waste of money for russia. with limited funds, and NATO being on their borders, they are much better off upgrading army, air force, subs and those nice little frigates they got. heck if i were in charge, i would immediately start to decommission those large but old 80s cruisers and destroyers and order more frigates instead.

 

[Beast]

I dont think China wants to sell the carrier now, China did a lot of hardwork and improvements to bring the carrier to the state it is, it is very much needed and backbone of Chinese navy to train others and to use with full capability now, Shandong is not fully operational. China only has two carriers that are operational now. Plus, Russian navy doesnt have mordern destroyers to guide the carrier that will make it a sitting target for the enemy.

It will be sold but not now. PLAN final goal is to have all catapult aircraft carrier.

The politician is from Zhirinovsky's party, its a random comment from a fringe political party official. not really likely. the design is old anyways, Russians would be better off building one from scratch, though aircraft carriers is not what they need right now.

But the problem is build from scratch will be very costly for cash strapped Russian as you need to build the shipyard, get the design team and not to mention building all the neccesary industries to build an aircraft carrier. Plus huge amount of time before Russian aircraft carrier can put into combat status.

If China wants to sell Liaoning. Buying from China is a better option.