[2] They are blue water multipurpose surface combatants, purposed to complement heavier Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates.

The creation of the class is associated with the shift in the Russian Navy to create a smaller fleet of multipurpose vessels that are cheaper to operate and maintain, but not less capable than the Soviet ships.

Anti-submarine armament consists of two double 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes and a RBU-6000 rocket launcher.

[4] In the course of the Russian military campaign in Syria, Admiral Grigorovich participated in a large-scale operation to strike targets in Syria by launching Kalibr cruise missiles, striking targets in the Idlib and Homs areas.

[5][6] On 25 August 2018, the Black Sea Fleet announced that Admiral Grigorovich, along with sister ship Admiral Essen, was making a "planned passage from Sevastopol to the Mediterranean Sea" to join the Russian Navy's Mediterranean task force.

[8][9] In May 2020, Admiral Grigorovich and the tug Nikolay Muru were deployed to the Indian Ocean.

[14] The visit happened months after a Russia-Sudan deal for establishing a naval base of the Russian Navy in Port Sudan and it was the first visit of a Russian warship to Sudan in the modern history.A In late March, Admiral Grigorovich tracked the carrier strike group of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower southwest of Crete, taking over from the frigate Admiral Kasatonov.

[17] In late November, she was absent from Tartus, likely shadowing the French aircraft carrier, deployed to the East Mediterranean.