This Will Be Interesting to Observe

Russia doesn't need to use their aircraft carrier to support Assad. They'd be better off sending the air element to a land base if they really need it. But it is good practice--and a good opportunity to see if they have a clue about sustained carrier operations.

This has to fall more in the area of practice rather than warfare:

Russia's state-run TASS news agency recently announced that Russia's sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, will deploy to the Mediterranean from October 2016 to January 2017 to fly sorties against the enemies of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. ...

This deployment will mark only the fifth deployment of the Kuznetsov since it's launch in 1985. All previous deployments only lasted a few months were also in the Mediterranean.

We require constant practice to retain proficiency in carrier operations. With only 5 non-fighting deployments in three decades by the Russian ship, this could be an ugly sight.

Although the refueling issue is minor. Remember that only our carriers are nuclear powered. The surface escorts do need refueling, just as Kuznetsov needs. I dare say our escorts need more frequent refuelings.

NATO electronic eavesdropping planes should orbit the ship 24/7 while it is at sea in the Mediterranean and vacuum up every electronic emission the ship makes.

With fighter escort, of course.