Kresta I & II-class

The Kresta II class, designated Project 1134A Berkut A by the Soviet Union, was a series of guided missile cruisers developed as an anti-submarine derivative of the preceding Kresta I class. While the Soviet Navy classified these vessels as large anti-submarine warfare ships, NATO designated them as cruisers because of the SS-N-14 Silex missile system's dual capability against submarines and surface vessels. The transition from the Kresta I design reflected a shift in Soviet naval doctrine toward prioritizing anti-submarine warfare over anti-ship roles. Although initial plans intended for the first three vessels to carry anti-ship missiles, the design was finalized to focus on specialized anti-submarine and surface-to-air systems.

The design utilized the same machinery suite as the Kresta I class, consisting of steam turbines and high-pressure boilers. Physical modifications included a more sharply raked bow to accommodate a hull-mounted sonar system. The class integrated updated 3D search radars and fire control radars for its various missile systems. For aviation operations, the ships featured a helipad and an aft hangar to house a single Kamov Ka-25 series helicopter, which was used for submarine detection and tracking. Early production units differed slightly in their sensor suites, as the first four ships completed lacked specific fire control radars for their close-in weapon systems and relied on manual targeting.

Ten Kresta II-class ships were constructed at the Zhdanov Shipyard in Leningrad between 1966 and 1977. The vessels entered service with the Soviet Navy between 1969 and 1977. The class remained in active service through the transition to the Russian Navy until their staggered retirement between 1991 and 1993. The ships in this class were the Kronstadt, Admiral Isakov, Admiral Nakhimov, Admiral Makarov, Khabarovsk (formerly Marshal Voroshilov), Admiral Oktyabrsky, Admiral Isachenkov, Marshal Timoshenko, Vasily Chapayev, and Admiral Yumashev. The Kresta II class was succeeded by the larger Kara-class cruisers.