Russia’s military has formed a mechanized assault group, codenamed “Fregat,” using the crew of its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, according to a report from Militarnyi.
According to the report, the battalion is composed of personnel from military unit No. 78987.
The formation of this battalion has raised questions about Russia’s ongoing personnel shortages in the conflict. Initially deployed in the Kharkiv region, the “Fregat” battalion has since been relocated to the Pokrovsk direction.
The battalion’s role in the conflict became more evident after it was revealed that one of the sailors from the Admiral Kuznetsov had gone missing in July during an assault on the border village of Sotnytskyi Kozachok in Kharkiv. The sailor, also from unit No. 78987, was never found.
The Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia’s only aircraft carrier, has been out of operation since 2017, undergoing extensive repairs after its deployment off the coast of Syria. The repair process has been plagued by several incidents, including the sinking of a drydock in 2018, which damaged the carrier’s deck, and a large fire on board in 2019 that injured several crew members. Originally scheduled to return to service by 2024, the timeline for completing the repairs has since been extended.
Russia has also been forming infantry units from the personnel of its Aerospace Forces, a move acknowledged by Russian propagandist Ilya Tumanov, who runs the Fighter Bomber channel on Telegram. Tumanov confirmed that these units are engaged in combat operations near Kursk.
The deployment of the “Fregat” battalion and other unconventional military formations suggests that Russia continues to face challenges in sustaining its manpower for ongoing operations, particularly in the protracted war in Ukraine.