Kathrine Frich
A new barrage of televised rhetoric from Moscow has placed the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales at the centre of Russian propaganda.
Several well-known commentators have taken aim at Britain’s military readiness, prompting renewed concerns about hostile messaging.
Their comments follow a period of heightened scrutiny over Western involvement in Ukraine.
Rising attacks
British media recently reported the Defence Secretary’s claim that the carrier had reached “full capability” under NATO command, after 36 F-35 sorties were flown in a single day.
Soon after, three of Moscow’s most prominent pro-Kremlin figures launched coordinated criticism on Russian state television, framing the ship as unfit for conflict.
Among them was Dr Yury Baranchik, who urged retaliation for UK supplies of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.
Explicit threats
Baranchik argued Russia could have targeted the ship directly.
He said: “For example, on 22 October we could have scrambled two or three MiG-31K/Is and struck the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales with Kinzhal [Dagger] missiles.”
He added that the UK would not risk escalation, commenting: “It is unlikely Britain would have started a nuclear war with us.”
He described such a strike as revenge for what he called British involvement in attacks on Russian territory.
Ridicule from lugovoy
Hardline MP Andrey Lugovoy, wanted in the UK for the 2006 radioactive poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, labelled the carrier a “leaky tub” and “rickety.”
He mocked Britain’s naval posture, saying: “They say that the shame of Britain and the Prince of Wales are synonymous.”
Lugovoy also claimed it was “timid,” referencing earlier deployment delays: “So it’s a timid aircraft carrier. There are Houthis, Houthis, I’m not going….”
Questioning uk capacity
Political analyst Yakov Kedmi echoed the criticism, insisting the vessel “cannot operate on its own.”
He argued Britain lacked the ability to assemble a sufficient escort group, saying:
“They can puff themselves up as much as they like… but they don’t have an army.”
Kedmi alleged the UK could not field “a single tank division” or a complete carrier group, describing broader NATO planning as unrealistic.
Lugovoy also revisited the carrier’s technical problems, saying it “suffered its first flood,” before listing further repair periods.
