Russian naval force planning is constrained by geography before it reaches the question of ship count. The Black Sea, Northern, and Pacific fleets operate in widely separated theaters, with the Baltic adding another distinct basin even if it receives a different priority. A carrier assigned to one area cannot routinely cover another as though the navy were concentrated in a single ocean. Availability requirements therefore become several regional fleet problems rather than one national inventory that can always reinforce itself.
Notable Point · 4:02:02-4:02:42
Why Russia cannot treat its fleets as one pool
The Black Sea, Northern, and Pacific fleets are separated enough that nominal carrier totals cannot be allocated like one freely interchangeable navy.