Russian Navy cruiser being prepared for tests following decades-long refurbishment

A Russian Navy warship that has been in service since the late 1980s has begun undergoing preparations for sea trials after spending more than 25 years in deep refurbishment, Russian media recently confirmed.

The 252-metre-long Admiral Nakhimov is the third nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser in the Russian Navy's four-strong Kirov-class, only three of which remain following sister ship Admiral Lazarev's scrapping in 2021.

Commissioned in 1988, Nakhimov saw service with the Soviet and then Russian Navies in the decade that followed until she was docked at local shipyard Sevmash in 1999, remaining there ever since with occasional repairs being undertaken.

In 2006, the Russian Government decided to modernise the cruiser with upgraded weaponry and other equipment and return her to operational status. However, the actual works commenced only in 2013 and have been continuously delayed.

Andrey Kostin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sevmash parent company United Shipbuilding Corporation, assured late last week during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin that Nakhimov will go out to sea for testing following the completion of repair work.

The Kremlin's press office has quoted Kostin as saying that the ship may already be included in the Russian Navy's combat strength in the near future.