Russia accelerates the construction of its largest warship since the Cold War after Ukraine sank the Moskva.

As reported by Tracey SBU Fella on April 3, 2025, Russia is continuing the construction of the largest warship it has built since the Cold War, the Project 23900-class amphibious assault ship Ivan Rogov, at the Zaliv shipyard located in the Crimean city of Kerch, currently under Russian control. Intended to become the new flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the Ivan Rogov significantly exceeds the size of the Slava-class missile cruiser Moskva, which sank in 2022.
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Satellite imagery from spring 2025 shows the vessel’s hull to be nearly complete, measuring approximately 220 meters in length and 40 meters in width, making it the largest warship Russia has built since the Cold War. (Picture source: Twitter/@trajaykay)

Satellite imagery from spring 2025 shows the vessel’s hull to be nearly complete, measuring approximately 220 meters in length and 40 meters in width, marking substantial progress compared to its state in July 2024, when only the basic structure had been assembled. Despite some visible advancements, the project remains behind schedule, and the vessel’s sea trials have been postponed until at least the end of 2027, with commissioning expected in 2028.

The development of the Project 23900-class amphibious assault ship followed the 2014 cancellation of a 2011 contract under which France was to deliver two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships to Russia, later blocked due to Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s annexation of Crimea. In response, Russia initiated a domestic program to produce its own amphibious assault ships under the leadership of the Zelenodolsk Design Bureau within the Ak Bars Shipbuilding Corporation. The initial proposals, known as Lavina and Priboy, were shown at the ARMY-2015 defense exhibition by the Krylov State Research Center and Nevskoe Design Bureau but were ultimately not selected. Instead, a new design emerged, combining elements of these earlier proposals with features of the Mistral-class, which was officially revealed during a visit by President Vladimir Putin to Sevastopol in January 2020. A contract for two units (Ivan Rogov and Mitrofan Moskalenko) was signed by the Russian Ministry of Defense in May 2020, valued at approximately 100 billion rubles, and construction began in July that year at the Zaliv shipyard—a politically significant move that reinforced Russian control over Crimea by integrating it into military-industrial production.

The Ivan Rogov and its sister ship, the Mitrofan Moskalenko, were both laid down on July 20, 2020. The design of the Project 23900 class reflects a structural departure from traditional Soviet-era landing ships to a hybrid platform that supports amphibious operations, air assault, and command functions. The vessel is designed to support large-scale marine operations directly from sea, as its architecture allows for vertical and horizontal troop deployment using helicopters, drones, and landing craft. The ships are also intended to serve as command centers for joint operations, projecting power within closed or semi-closed seas like the Black Sea. While the Ivan Rogov is undergoing visible outfitting, the status of the Mitrofan Moskalenko remains undisclosed to the public, although it is reportedly still under construction. The Russian Ministry of Defense has previously indicated that both ships would be delivered by 2026–2027, although this timeline has shifted. Infrastructure previously prepared for one of the French Mistrals is now being adapted for use by the second Project 23900 ship.

The Ivan Rogov has an estimated full displacement of 40,000 tons, making it the largest warship constructed by Russia since the Cold War. It is expected to carry up to 900 marines and 75 armored vehicles, and can deploy between three and four smaller landing craft of the Serna, Dyugon, or Tsaplya classes from its internal well deck. Equipped with a dock bay and a hangar deck, it can host an air wing of up to 30 helicopters and four UAVs, including the Ka-27 for anti-submarine warfare, Ka-29 for transport, Ka-31 for airborne early warning, Ka-52K for reconnaissance and attack, and potentially the future Ka-65 models. It is also expected to operate with unmanned surface vessels such as the Typhoon and Skanda, enhancing its anti-submarine and mine warfare capabilities. According to public and Russian defense sources, these autonomous systems are intended to detect and neutralize mines independently, reducing reliance on minesweeping support vessels. Furthermore, Russian sources suggest the vessel may integrate up to four Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B unmanned strike drones, potentially giving it a unique long-range reconnaissance and attack capacity.

The design of the Project 23900 class reflects a structural departure from traditional Soviet-era landing ships to a hybrid platform that supports amphibious operations, air assault, and command functions. (Picture source: Dzen.ru)

The propulsion system is a CODAG (combined diesel and gas) configuration, consisting of two 16D49 diesel engines rated at 5 MW each and two M90FR gas turbines generating 21 MW each. This provides a maximum speed of 22 knots and an estimated range of 6,000 nautical miles. The vessel’s endurance is expected to be up to 60 days, and it will be crewed by 320 personnel. Defensive armament includes one 100 mm A190 naval gun, three Kashtan close-in weapon systems, and two Pantsir-M surface-to-air missile systems. Reports also suggest the possibility of Kalibr cruise missile integration, though this remains unconfirmed. The ship’s electronic warfare and communications suites remain classified, but Russian sources indicate the platform is intended to serve as a full command hub within a naval task group.

The decision to complete Ivan Rogov and designate it as the Black Sea Fleet flagship is widely understood to be connected to the loss of the Slava-class missile cruiser Moskva, which was sunk in April 2022. The cruiser, which measured 186 meters and displaced 11,490 tons, was reportedly hit by Ukrainian Neptune missiles. At the time, it was the largest and most heavily armed surface ship in the region and served as the command vessel for the Black Sea Fleet, symbolizing Russian naval power in the region. Following its loss, the fleet has lacked a comparable command and control asset. Ivan Rogov is being positioned to fill that gap, though with a different operational focus. While the Moskva operated as an area-denial platform with long-range air defense capabilities, Ivan Rogov’s mission profile emphasizes expeditionary operations, amphibious deployment, and command support, though sources suggest the new ship may be permanently based in Novorossiysk rather than Sevastopol to reduce vulnerability to future attacks.

The Moskva, originally commissioned in 1983 as the Slava, remained the region’s most capable vessel for decades. Measuring 186 meters in length and displacing 11,490 tons, it carried 16 P-1000 Vulkan anti-ship missiles and S-300F Fort long-range air defense systems. It served both as a symbol of the Soviet naval legacy and as a central command-and-control platform. The destruction of the Moskva not only deprived the fleet of a critical military asset but also damaged Russian prestige and influence in the region, as it served as the principal surface combatant of the Black Sea Fleet and was intended to maintain Russian control in the region.

Replacing the Moskva with Ivan Rogov brings both benefits and limitations. On the positive side, Ivan Rogov is tailored for expeditionary operations and includes modern features such as a larger air wing, UAV integration, and modular configurations for a range of missions. Its ability to perform amphibious assaults, serve as a floating command center, and conduct hybrid operations offers flexibility that the Moskva lacked. It also allows for rapid deployment of forces and equipment in support of broader military or political objectives.

At the same time, Ivan Rogov lacks the long-range strike and area-defense functions provided by the Moskva’s missile systems. The ship is not equipped with a comparable air defense system such as the S-300F, nor does it carry long-range anti-ship cruise missiles in its standard configuration. As a result, Ivan Rogov does not offer the same deterrence capabilities. Its deployment represents a shift in Russian naval doctrine, away from surface strike and denial missions and toward combined arms operations and support roles in regional theaters. Its construction and eventual deployment also carry strategic implications related to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine and Russia’s broader objectives in the Black Sea region.

The sinking of the Moskva by Ukraine not only deprived the Russian Black Sea Fleet of a critical military asset but also damaged Russian prestige and influence in the region, as it served as the flagship of the Russian Fleet. (Picture source: Twitter/Darth Putin)