Soviet Kiev-class aircraft carriers face divergent fates

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the four Kiev-class aircraft carriers—hybrid vessels designed for both vertical takeoff aircraft and surface combat—met divergent fates. Originally built to counter US naval power, these Project 1143 ships were equipped with anti-ship, anti-aircraft, and anti-submarine weaponry.

The lead ship, Kiev, was decommissioned in 1993. After being sold to a Chinese company in 1996, it was repurposed as a military-themed attraction in Tianjin and eventually converted into a hotel, costing approximately 100 million yuan.

The Minsk also faced a complex history after being decommissioned in 1993, involving sales to South Korean interests. Other vessels of the class were repurposed for service in the Indian Navy.