List of cruisers of the Russian Navy

For this reason, they had been armed with heavy main guns and medium armour to fight with light cruisers.

Prior to and during the Second World War, the Soviet Navy attempted to procure heavier cruiser types, including two different battlecruiser designs.

NOTE: Large antisubmarine ships of Project 1134a (NATO codename Kresta II) and Project 1134b (Kara) never classified as cruisers in the Soviet Navy, nor were cruisers in reality: it was a type of large frigates (due to arming of antisubmarine torpedo-missiles).

Tyazhelyi atomnyi raketnyi kreiser \ «тяжёлый атомный ракетный крейсер» (ТАРКР).

Ships were purposed to air cover of patrol regions of Soviet ballistic missile submarines (to destroy opponent's antisubmarine helicopters and airplanes), as well as searching and destroying opponent's guided missile & multi-purpose submarines and (3rd purpose) to striking the opponent's above-water ships by guided missiles, consisting of ships' squadrons and cooperating with other fleets' forces.

They were not intended to be the main shock force of the Navy, but only a part of own strategic submarines' defense system (first three units).

Fourth ship really became a large training base for fifth, her aircraft (Yak-141) was not completed and she remained with helicopters only, i.e. as antisubmarine cruiser.

Fifth unit (and uncompleted sixth) were designed as ships of transitional type, and only seventh, non-completed nuclear Ulyanovsk, although classified officially to cruisers, could become a first Russian relatively full aircraft carrier.