The Kiev class ships were a weird cruiser-carrier hybrid, and the ski-jump deck is a conversion of the cruiser portion. One reason the Soviets did built them like that is that a treaty forbids the passage of air craft carriers through the Straights of Dardanelles. By calling the Kievs cruisers, the Soviets could move them through the straights and in and out of the Black Sea.
Makes sense; thanks.