Aha - the reason why the Kuznetsov had those 12 missiles fitted seems to have been so that it would be counted as a “aircraft carrying cruiser” rather than as an aircraft carrier.
Which meant that (during the days of the USSR) it could pass freely into and out of the Black Sea under the terms of the Montreux treaty. Whereas an aircraft carrier couldn’t.
I have no idea if that distinction is still important. But that’s why it’s such a strange design.
Partly. Soviet naval doctrine was to fire a broadside of missiles and then get out of Dodge, or get sunk trying. The Kuznetzov and her sisters were no exception. The aircraft were purely to protect an ASW group. Thats about all they’re good for... chasing off the odd P3 or Nimrod.