Oleg Odnokolenko Segodnya, January 15, 2001, pp. 1-2
An interview with Admiral Georgy Kostev, Professor, Member of the Academy of Military Sciences, author of the fundamental work “National Navy in the last half a century: ups and downs”.
SUMMARY:
Were it not for the tragedy, the Kursk would have been assigned to patrol station in the Mediterranean. But even that would not have meant Russia’s comeback into the ocean. The aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov made a sortie to the Mediterranean not so long ago, with nothing to show for it. In principle, there is nothing bad about the aspiration to return to the ocean but such things require serious preparations.
Russia should remember that the Navy is a vital element of the state which determines more than its military might or position in the world. Periods of Russia’s economic and political prosperity have always coincided with the periods of prosperity of its Navy.
The Navy should be taken care of in a proper manner if Russia is not to remain in backwaters of civilization.