A massive fire severely damaged the decommissioned Soviet-era aircraft carrier Minsk on August 16, 2024, while it was undergoing renovations in China’s Jiangsu province. The Minsk, once a formidable vessel of the Soviet Pacific Fleet, had been converted into a tourist attraction after its military retirement but was being refitted when the blaze broke out. The fire started around 4:00 PM local time in the Nantong Suxitong Science and Technology Industrial Park, situated along the Yangtze River.
Dramatic footage of the fire showed thick smoke and flames engulfing the carrier, which was docked in a man-made lagoon. The fire caused the ship’s superstructure to partially collapse, leaving significant damage visible in the aftermath. The blaze was finally brought under control and extinguished after nearly 24 hours, with no casualties reported. Local fire authorities are currently investigating the cause of the incident, but details remain unclear.
#SovietNavy #ColdWar A fire broke out in #China on the former Soviet #aircraft #carrier #Minsk, which was sold to #Chinese entrepreneurs in 1998.
This impressive video reminded me of #footage from the #movie The Sum of All Fears. pic.twitter.com/cYl5FvylOa— HITNEWS WORLD (@HITNEWSWORLD) August 19, 2024
The Minsk, the second of four Kiev-class carriers built by the Soviet Union, had served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1978 until its decommissioning in 1993. After being sold for scrap, it was eventually purchased by a Chinese company and repurposed as the centerpiece of the Minsk World military theme park in Shenzhen, which operated from 2000 until its closure in 2016 due to financial difficulties. The ship was later moved to its current location in Nantong, where it was intended to become part of a new theme park project, with a focus on national defense education.
The fire has cast doubt on the future of the Minsk, with officials acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding its fate. The carrier, which had been an iconic attraction during its time in Shenzhen, was undergoing renovation work in preparation for a planned public reopening. However, the extent of the damage now raises questions about whether it can be repaired or if it will be sold off for scrap. Some experts suggest that, given the ship’s deteriorated state before the fire, this incident may have been inevitable.
Former Soviet carrier Minsk ablaze last night
She was sold to China to become a hotel and theme park many years ago but after the fire last night I’d say she may be scrapped pic.twitter.com/bmqkYsGW8d
— 🇬🇧 The_Sub_Hunter 🇨🇦 (@TheSubHunter1) August 17, 2024
The Minsk is one of the few remaining Kiev-class carriers, with another sister ship, the Kiev, currently serving as a hotel in Tianjin, China. Meanwhile, the fourth and final ship of the class, the Baku, was sold to India and now serves as the INS Vikramaditya, the flagship of the Indian Navy.
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