These ships were the first Soviet guided missile destroyers and were initially designated Project 57bis (or 57b) and known to NATO as the Krupny class.

However, in February 1957, the incoming chief of staff, Admiral Sergey Gorshkov ordered changes after missile armed versions of the Kotlin class were deemed unsuccessful.

[2] The hull was scaled up from the Kotlin class,[2] and the machinery was the same as those ships, except that remote control stations were installed and electrical generating capacity was increased.

The superstructure was made of steel rather than the aluminium/ magnesium alloy of the Kotlin class ships and accommodation was significantly improved.

[2] The limitations of the SS-N-1 missile were clear by 1965 and the Soviet Navy decided to convert the ships to a more general purpose / ASW role.