Russian Ivan Rogov warship
MNewly released satellite images show that the Zaliv Shipyard in Kerch, a city in Russian-occupied Crimea, is making good progress on building the Ivan Rogov, a huge amphibious assault ship. This ship is one of two planned as part of Russia’s Project 23900. It is being built to improve the Russian Navy’s capabilities, and the lead ship is getting close to a very important stage in its development.
The pictures, taken in mid-March and shared by several open-source intelligence analysts, show a hull that is up to 220 meters long and 40 meters wide. This indicates significant progress compared to the pictures from July 2024, which only displayed the initial framework.
This ship is a big step forward in Russia’s naval plans, especially in the Black Sea, even though there are still economic sanctions in place and a war in Ukraine. It can carry up to 15 helicopters, 900 marines, and a lot of military gear.
It’s not like other ships, the Ivan Rogov. It is part of Project 23900, a program that began in July 2020 and is meant to be a universal landing ship that can send troops, vehicles, and air support all at the same time.
It is much bigger than the Moskva, which was the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet until it sank in April 2022 after a missile attack from Ukraine. The length of that cruiser was 186 meters, and it weighed 11,490 tonnes. The Ivan Rogov is a much bigger and more flexible platform.
Russia Took over Crimea
The designers built the ship to carry 75 armoured vehicles, three landing craft, and a group of helicopters—including the Ka-29 transport and Ka-52K attack variants. The Russian government estimated the cost at around 100 billion rubles, or $1.3 billion, when they laid the keel. This shows how much money Moscow is willing to put into its naval resurgence.
The speed of construction in this area is what stands out. A researcher in OSINT named MT Anderson shared satellite images less than a year ago that showed Ivan Rogov’s hull in its early stages, with only the basic skeleton starting to take shape at the Zaliv facility.
Now, it looks like the ship’s structure is almost done, which makes us wonder about Russia’s shipbuilding skills when they are under a lot of stress. In the past, the Zaliv Shipyard on the eastern edge of Crimea was a key location for Soviet and Russian naval projects. However, Western sanctions against Russia’s defense industry have made it harder for the yard to produce goods in recent years.
These restrictions, which were put in place after Russia took over Crimea in 2014 and got stricter after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, have made it harder to get advanced technology, materials, and money. Still, the quick progress points to either an amazing ability on the part of Russian engineers to adapt or a move of resources that doesn’t follow any rules from outside sources.
U.S. Navy’s America-class Amphibious Assault Ships
When looked at through the lens of technology, this accomplishment is even more impressive. It takes a lot of planning and coordination to build a ship this big. It needs to be made of steel, welded, and have its propulsion systems integrated while also dealing with problems in the supply chain.
The Zaliv yard’s ability to move forward could mean that domestic production is getting better, like making more high-strength steel or using modular building methods that assemble faster. Some analysts think Russia may be evading sanctions by sourcing parts from other countries, but satellite images show no evidence.
The pictures do show a busy worksite with cranes and materials that suggest someone is working hard. In contrast, the U.S. Navy’s America-class amphibious assault ships, which do similar work and weigh about 45,000 tonnes, take about four to five years from laying the keel to putting them into service, assuming everything goes smoothly.
The Ivan Rogov
If Russia sticks to its plan, the Ivan Rogov could be operational by late 2026 or early 2027. This shows either creativity or desperation. The smart timing of this project makes it even more captivating. Amphibious assault ships serve as offensive weapons, demonstrating their strength on land through troop landings and air support.
In the Black Sea, Ukraine’s use of drones and anti-ship missiles has made Russia’s naval dominance less stable. The Ivan Rogov could help Russia regain some of the power it has lost. Moscow would be better able to threaten coastal targets or strengthen its positions in disputed areas like Crimea if it could send marines and helicopters there. But the ship can do more than just go through local waters.
Russia wants to have more naval forces in the Arctic, where melting ice creates new shipping lanes and resource opportunities, and in the Mediterranean, where it already has a base in Tartus, Syria.
Russia’s Military Power
Such a ship could serve as a mobile command centre for missions of this type. This would fit with President Vladimir Putin’s goal of restoring Russia’s military power around the world, which he has been working toward since the early 2000s.
Over the years, Russia’s navy has relied more on submarines and surface combatants and less on wars that happen on both land and sea. The Ivan Rogov-class landing ships from the Soviet era were built in the 1970s and were taken out of service in the 2000s. They were much smaller, weighing only 14,000 tonnes and holding four helicopters.
The new Project 23900 is a big step forward. It was inspired by modern wars, where quickly sending troops and air support has been crucial. During the Russo-Georgian War in 2008, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was crucial for landing troops, but it didn’t have all the features of a modern amphibious assault ship.
NATO Allies
Ivan Rogov, as it is now, seems designed to get around these problems, providing a base for long-term operations away from home. But even though the ship has a lot of potential, it also has some problems.
One weakness could be that it relies too much on helicopters like the Ka-52K, which is a navalized version of the Alligator attack helicopter. Ukrainian military sources report that Russia is struggling to replace lost planes, causing slow production of new aircraft.
A transport helicopter called the Ka-29 is also getting old. Many of its airframes are decades old. Putting 15 fully operational helicopters on the Ivan Rogov could put a lot of pressure on Russia’s aviation industry. Furthermore, the ship’s size makes it a prime target for modern weapons that destroy ships. The loss of the Moskva taught us this lesson very clearly.
Ukraine’s Neptune missiles and sea drones have shown how fragile large surface ships can be in disputed waters. If tensions rise, NATO allies like Turkey, which controls access to the Black Sea through the Bosporus, could limit the Ivan Rogov’s movements under the Montreux Convention.
These flaws raise bigger questions about how useful the ship is on today’s battlefield. Attacks by both land and sea are dangerous and require air and sea superiority, which Russia has not always had in Ukraine.
Because of precision-guided threats, the U.S. Marines shifted from big beach landings to smaller, spread-out operations. If the Ivan Rogov leads a major landing, it risks heavy losses from a well-prepared enemy. It looks impressive on paper, but critics say it’s based on outdated military strategies. This concern often surfaces in discussions about Russia’s modernisation plans.
Moscow’s claim to Crimea
Beyond technical difficulties, the Ivan Rogov has serious political consequences. Turkey controls access to the Black Sea and is also a NATO member. The complicated ties it maintains with Russia frequently change as events unfold. Turkey is able to lawfully stop ships from passing through the straits during times of war.
In 2022, Ankara used this power to stop several Russian warships. The ship’s base in occupied Kerch could reinforce Moscow’s claim to Crimea. The U.S. and its allies strongly reject that claim. Meanwhile, China may view the Ivan Rogov as inspiration—or a warning—for its Type 075 ships.
Beijing is concentrating on bolstering its navy in the Pacific region. NATO already watches Russia’s military buildup and may respond with added defences. That could mean more patrols, stronger missile defenses, or closer regional cooperation. Satellite images offer more than just glimpses of progress.
They reveal Russia’s priorities and determination despite global isolation. Newsweek and Defence Express say analysts are studying the new photos carefully. They’ve noticed steady construction, active crews, and heavy equipment on site. This suggests Russia has shielded the project from its broader economic problems.
Kerch’s mild spring weather has likely sped up progress. Unlike Arctic yards, it avoids delays from harsh winter conditions. Some OSINT watchers have commented on the steel and hull coatings. Still, those details remain unconfirmed without more profound image analysis.
Conclusion
Zaliv Shipyard now plays a central role in Russia’s naval ambitions. It has drawn attention from military intelligence agencies around the world. Ivan Rogov’s rapid construction reflects Russia’s push to rebuild its maritime power. This effort continues despite war, sanctions, and international isolation.
The pace is impressive, showing both engineering skill and political will. But serious strategic questions still hang over the project. The ship’s shape-shifting design could transform Russia’s naval capabilities. Yet, success depends on more than just shipbuilding.
Support aircraft, trained crews, and global conditions also matter. Today, it stands as a massive act of defiance. It grows under satellite scrutiny, watched closely by rivals. We wait to see if it transforms into a true powerhouse or fades away. Only time, and maybe war, will give us the answer.
References
- Newsweek—Satellite Images Reveal Progress on Russia’s Massive Ivan Rogov Warship
- Defense Express—Russia Fast-Tracks Construction of Project 23900 Ivan Rogov Ship Despite Sanctions
- Naval News—Russia’s Project 23900 Ivan Rogov Amphibious Assault Ship Explained
- The Drive (War Zone)—Russia Building Large Amphibious Assault Ship Under Sanctions
- CSIS—Russia’s Military Shipbuilding Under Sanctions
- OSINT Technical (@Osinttechnical on X) – Ivan Rogov Satellite Image Thread
- Montreux Convention—UNESCO Summary of Montreux Convention
- U.S. Navy – America-Class Amphibious Assault Ship Fact Sheet
