Historically, Soviets built four Kiev -class and one Kutznetsov -class TAKR's. Their mission was to help in defending Soviet bastion areas.
What if, taking a look at costs of a carrier program Soviets decide to abandon the concept and make investments in other areas instead? Say, better area SAM's for warships, in-flight refuelling of fighters, land-based ASW aircraft and helicopter carrying warships a la Moskva-class?
As for post-Cold War Russian navy, this would probably make Russian navy much more powerful as they would not have to waste resources on Kutznetsov. India would avoid Gorshkov tale and perhaps purchase, say, Clemenceau or Foch instead. China would have to develop it's own indigenous carrier which might have benefits, not just disadvantages.
What if, taking a look at costs of a carrier program Soviets decide to abandon the concept and make investments in other areas instead? Say, better area SAM's for warships, in-flight refuelling of fighters, land-based ASW aircraft and helicopter carrying warships a la Moskva-class?
As for post-Cold War Russian navy, this would probably make Russian navy much more powerful as they would not have to waste resources on Kutznetsov. India would avoid Gorshkov tale and perhaps purchase, say, Clemenceau or Foch instead. China would have to develop it's own indigenous carrier which might have benefits, not just disadvantages.