Russia abandons key fleet modernization program

As the Center reports, Russia's civilian maritime fleet modernization program, heavily promoted by authorities in 2023, has been cut by more than 40%.

A plan to build 260 commercial, fishing, and cruise ships over five years has effectively been frozen due to a critical lack of funding.

The Kremlin is rapidly diverting financial resources to sustain its war against Ukraine, leaving civilian initiatives on the sidelines.

The blow has hit not only the shipbuilding industry but also the aviation and naval sectors.

Due to sanctions and growing technical degradation, aircraft in Russia are increasingly involved in accidents. For instance, the recent crash of an An-24 aircraft in the Amur region resulted in the death of all 49 people on board.

What’s happening in the maritime sector

Russia has been forced to decommission and scrap its only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, which had been under repair for years but never reached combat readiness.

For the first time this year, the main naval parade in St. Petersburg, typically used as a propaganda tool, was canceled without explanation.

Sanctions have also severely disrupted traditional supply routes to Kaliningrad. While sea transport has increased, the logistics network is collapsing.

Since sanctions were introduced in 2022, Russia has significantly increased spending on cargo transit to the Kaliningrad region, an enclave with no land connection to the rest of the country.

Previously, most shipments passed through Lithuania, but this route is now heavily restricted due to quotas and sanctions.