Russian carrier used in Syria strikes disabled following repairs mishap

Russia's only aircraft carrier is thought to be severely damaged after a crane crashed into its deck during repairs last week, putting the future of the ship into question.

Admiral Kuznetsov was being repaired at the 82nd Repair Shipyard in Roslyakovo, when a 70-ton crane collapsed into the carrier.

The floating dry dock used for the repairs also sank during the mishap, narrowly bringing the Admiral Kuznetsov down with it.

It is not clear how severe the damage suffered to the carrier is, but many analysts believe it will be a significant setback for the Russian navy, who have used the Admiral Kuznetsov as part of a propaganda campaign during its intervention in the Syria war.

The airstrikes were the carrier's only combat deployment and used by Moscow to highlight its growing military prowess and confidence.

Russia has downplayed the damage to the only aircraft carrier in its fleet, although experts say this is a common response from Moscow to most of its military mishaps.

The Admiral Kuznetsov became fully operational in 1995, after the Soviet leadership ordered its construction as part of a modernisation campaign for its fleet.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has built few crafts with President Vladimiri Putin instead concentrating on upgrading its existing fleet, including the Admiral Kuznetsov.

The craft is widely seen as outdated compared to more modern aircraft carriers in the world.

The refit of the ship is believed to cost between $300 million and $1.1 billion, and includes major mechanical and weapon upgrades. 

Many have suggested the costly modernisation of the craft could be a waste of money and the carrier should instead be decommissioned.

"In general, we need to critically review the domestic concept of the employment of carrier strike groups since Russia has undertaken to use the Admiral Kuznetsov to accomplish such missions," the War is Boring blog reported Oleg Vladykin saying in Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper.

The aging 55,000 ton carrier has suffered numerous mechanical failures, including a mishap in 2016 when a Su-33 crashed whilst trying to land on it following a bombing mission in Syria.

Analysts said that the carrier is not a reliable, with most Moscow's airstrikes in Syria carried out by jets at Russia's Latakia airbase.

Russia intervened in Syria's war in 2015, launching hundreds of airstrikes on opposition areas killing thousands of civilians, according to monitors.