[1] Project 97P (Russian: 97П) was developed as a response to the renewed interest of the Soviet Navy and Soviet Border Troops on icebreaking patrol ships after United States Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers began appearing more frequently near the country's northern maritime borders.

Fully laden, the vessels draw 6.5 metres (21.3 ft) of water and have a full load displacement of 3,710 tonnes (3,650 long tons).

The hull, derived from an older Swedish-built icebreaker, features a round midship with a pronounced tumblehome and practically no flat bottom or sides; this makes the ships uncomfortable to the crew in heavy seas despite having two roll damping tanks.

The enlarged deckhouse is built of aluminum-magnesium alloy to reduce weight and provides accommodation for a complement of 10 officers and 113 crew.

[1] Ivan Susanin-class patrol ships share the same diesel-electric power plant with the other Project 97 variants.