And reality is sinking in that the Northern Fleet's mission of interdicting NATO lines of supply across the North Atlantic is long gone. Russia needs a Northern Fleet capable of defending their coast and a ballistic missile submarine bastion in the waters off their northern coast, but that's about it. When the Russian's refit one of their more capable big ships, it will move to the Pacific:
The Russian missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov may reinforce Russia's Pacific Fleet in 2013 after repairs, a high-placed official of the Russian Navy said on Sunday. ...
The Marshal Ustinov, a Slava-class missile cruiser, was launched in 1982 and commissioned with the Russian Northern Fleet in 1986.
It is one of their more capable ships and has missiles optimized for attacking aircraft carriers. China will soon deploy aircraft carriers.
