It reached the second-highest level (Soviet First League and Russian First Division) in 1957–1962 and 1992.

They won their Russian Professional Football League zone East in the 2015–16 season, but did not participate in the second-tier 2016–17 Russian Football National League as they don't have necessary financing.

[1] Their main source of income is Khabarovsk Krai which already finances another FNL team FC SKA-Energiya Khabarovsk and doesn't have necessary expenses budgeted for a second FNL team.

However, the largest number of teams that would be potentially ready to compete in the new proposed Far East zone was 4, which was not sustainable for the full season.

Smena was forced to drop out of the professional competition to the amateur levels.