Russia Builds Largest Black Sea Warship In Occupied Crimea, Defies Sanctions

Recent Satellite images show remarkable progress in the construction of Russia’s amphibious assault ship, one of the two planned under Project 23900.

Named the Ivan Rogov, this largest black sea warship is taking shape at Kerch’s Zaliv Shipyard, in the Russian occupied Crimea.

Images portray a hull stretching up to 220 metres with a width of 40 metres, showcasing swift development, as previous photos from July 2024 showed just a framework of the vessel.

It can carry around 15 helicopters, 900 marines and an array of military equipment, pointing towards Moscow’s growing naval ambitions in the Black Sea region amidst its long going war with Ukraine and heavy U.S and Western Sanctions.

However, this is not an ordinary ship, but a part of an important project launched in 2020. The ship is envisaged to become a universal landing ship to deploy troops, vehicles and air support in an operation.

It will boast a full displacement of up to 30,000 tonnes, drawing Moskva, the former flagship of Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet that sank in 2022 after a missile attack by Ukraine.

It can also accommodate 75 armoured vehicles, 3 landing craft and a helicopter complement which would have models such as the Ka-29 transport and the Ka-52K.

The largest black sea warship of Russia is expected to cost roughly 1.3 billion dollars, an estimate made during its keel laying.

Amidst all this, what catches the eye is the rapid pace of construction of this vessel, whose hull was in its infancy less than a year ago and now it appears to be near structural completion.

This raises questions over Russia’s shipbuilding capacities under pressure. Zaliv Shipyard has been a site for Soviet and Russian naval projects but its capacity was affected due to western sanctions.

But the ability of Zaliv yard to go forward with the construction at a rapid pace suggests increase in domestic production enabling faster assembly. Some experts also speculate that Moscow might be getting components from other countries by circumventing the western sanctions.

If construction progresses at this pace, the Ivan Rogov could become operational by 2026 or 2027.

Once complete and active, it would bolster Russia’s capacity to threaten coastal targets or reinforce positions in contested regions like Crimea. However, its abilities go beyond just simple operations in regional waters.

Russia also plans to increase its naval presence in the Arctic as melting icebergs opens new shipping routes and opportunities in the Mediterranean.

A massive vessel like this could also function as a floating command centre for such strategic expeditions, as it aligns with President Putin’s aim of reviving Moscow’s military capabilities, something he has pursued since the 2000s.

However, though it looks quite promising, it has its own weaknesses, such as its dependence on helicopters, like the Ka-52K, whose production is slow.

It might face difficulties when it becomes active since Turkey, a NATO member, would monitor it closely, given its position on the Black Sea. Under international law, Turkiye can limit the passage of warships during times of war, a power it used in 2022 for blocking a few Russian vessels.

The ship’s position in occupied Kerch might also complicate things. The vessel could become a game changer for the Russian Navy, giving it the much needed boost in capacity, though its success depends on more than one factors, including aviation support and crew training.

References: Bulgarian Military, United 24 Media