A sailor stands in front of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Sevastopol September 16, 2008. The Moskva, flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, symbolises Russia's navy: all too easy to dismiss as an ageing rust-bucket, it can still pack a formidable punch. Picture taken September 16, 2008.(Denis Sinyakov/Reuters)
From Reuters:
ABOARD THE MOSKVA MISSILE CRUISER (Reuters) – This Russian warship left the shipyard 25 years ago and it shows: the electronics consoles look like museum exhibits and its hull carries a thick crust of paint from years of running repairs.
Its shortcomings reflect the Russian navy's many problems, highlighted again this month by an accident on a nuclear submarine that killed 20 people.
But looks can deceive. Hidden beneath the decks of the Moskva cruiser are 16 "Bazalt" guided missiles, which travel faster than the speed of sound and can strike an enemy aircraft carrier group 500 km (310 miles) away.
The Moskva, flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, symbolizes Russia's navy: all too easy to dismiss as an aging rust-bucket, it can still pack a formidable punch.
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My Comment: To maintain and modernize a navy involves enormous expenditures and the commitment of personnel. Russia lacks both.