Afanasy Nikitin (Russian: Афанасий Никитин) was a Soviet and later Ukrainian icebreaker in service from 1962 until 1995.

Fully laden, the vessels drew 5.35 metres (17.6 ft) of water and had a displacement of 2,935 tonnes (2,889 long tons).

Their three 1,800-horsepower (1,300 kW) 10-cylinder 13D100 two-stroke opposed-piston diesel engines were coupled to generators that powered electric propulsion motors driving two propellers in the stern and a third one in the bow.

Project 97A icebreakers were capable of breaking 70 to 75 centimetres (28 to 30 in) thick snow-covered ice at very slow but continuous speed.

[4] Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Afanasy Nikitin passed over to the successor state, Ukraine.