The Black Sea Fleet is essentially a dying enterprise. One recent Russian report argues that 80 percent of its ships will need to be written off in the near term. Its current order of battle consists of 37 ships. The missile cruiser Moscow (currently on an extended deployment) is the flagship. There is also one other cruiser, one destroyer, two frigates, 13 corvettes and missile boats, and 3 patrol craft. There are also 7 littoral warfare ships, 9 minesweepers, and 1 diesel sub. The average age of these ships is 28, which makes it the oldest fleet in the Russian Navy.
One, it isn't dead yet. And it could recover. And it will, I dare say.
Two, this ignores the political implications of the deal that brings Ukraine into Russia's orbit.
Third, just how big does the fleet have to be? Who else can challenge whatever fleet the Russians manage to maintain in the Black Sea?
The Russians simply don't need very much to dominate the sea and project power. The Russians just need robust amphibious warfare assets that include helicopter capability (armed and transport), some air-defense ships, and a fair number of smaller combatants to pose a threat to Georgia and remind other Black Sea states that Russia is still a factor.
