Are they going to sortie from the carrier, or fly to the ground base and sortie from there?
If they sortie from the carrier, then I say doubly good. Let the Russians kill Muslims, and let the Russians wear out their ships, equipment and crews while doing it.
The experience the Russians receive will far outweigh the wear and tear upon their ships and aircraft. In addition Russia is now projecting their power into the Mediterranean which is what they have wanted for centuries. By gaining control in the Mediterranean they are out flanking Europe.(Remember where we started against Hitler.)