Before being acquired and renamed by India, INS Vikramaditya served in the Soviet and Russian Navy under which name?

Introduction / Context:
INS Vikramaditya is a key aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy and plays an important role in India maritime power projection. Before joining the Indian Navy, this ship served with the Soviet and later Russian Navy under a different name. Many defence related exam questions ask about this original name to test basic awareness of naval history and acquisitions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The ship in question is INS Vikramaditya.- We are asked for its earlier Russian name.- Options list four names: Admiral Gorshkov, Admiral Gorbachev, Admiral Nakhimov, and Admiral Petr Bezobrazov.- We assume standard Indian defence GK as used in many competitive exams.

Concept / Approach:
The aircraft carrier now known as INS Vikramaditya was originally commissioned as a Kiev class aviation cruiser. It first served under the name Baku and was later renamed Admiral Gorshkov in the Russian Navy. India later purchased and extensively refitted this ship before commissioning it as INS Vikramaditya. Therefore, the Russian name that appears in exam questions is Admiral Gorshkov, which we must pick from the given options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that INS Vikramaditya is an ex Russian aircraft carrier acquired and refitted by India.2. Remember that in Russian service, the ship was known as Admiral Gorshkov, named after Admiral Sergey Gorshkov.3. Compare the exact spellings in the options: only option A spells Gorshkov correctly, while others use different surnames like Gorbachev, Nakhimov, or Bezobrazov.4. Recognize that while Admiral Nakhimov and other names exist in Russian naval history, they do not correspond to this particular ship.5. Choose Admiral Gorshkov as the correct Russian name for INS Vikramaditya.

Verification / Alternative check:
Defence magazines, naval history articles, and exam notes usually describe the journey of this vessel: built as Baku, renamed Admiral Gorshkov, decommissioned, then sold to India and converted into an aircraft carrier named INS Vikramaditya. This timeline is repeated in many sources and firmly associates Admiral Gorshkov with the ship now serving in the Indian Navy, which confirms that option A is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Admiral Gorbachev: This name echoes a political leader but is not the historical name of this ship.- Admiral Nakhimov: This name belongs to other Russian naval vessels and historical figures, not to the carrier now called INS Vikramaditya.- Admiral Petr Bezobrazov: Also a name from naval history but not linked with the ship India acquired and renamed Vikramaditya.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may confuse Admiral Nakhimov with Admiral Gorshkov because both names appear in discussions of Russian naval ships. Others may misread the spellings or be distracted by names that sound familiar from politics and history. To avoid this, it helps to recall the full story of the ship acquisition, anchoring the Russian name Admiral Gorshkov directly to INS Vikramaditya in memory.

Final Answer:
The correct option is Admiral Gorshkov, the name under which the ship now known as INS Vikramaditya previously served in the Soviet and Russian Navy.