Russian Carrier 'Admiral Kuznetsov' returns to service after modernization at Murmansk branch of JSC Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center. The carrier (project name was Sovetsky Soyuz) was laid down at Chernomorsky Shipyard in Nikolayev on Sept 1, 1982 having original name of Riga and launched on Dec 4, 1985 under the name of Leonid Brezhnev. On Aug 11, 1987 she was renamed Tbilisi and on Oct 4, 1990 the carrier changed its name to Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov. The ship joined Northern Fleet on Jan 20, 1991.