[1] The patrol ship variant, Project 97P (Russian: 97П), was developed as a response to the renewed interest of the Soviet Navy and Soviet Border Troops on icebreaking patrol vessels 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 displacement of 3,710 tonnes (3,650 long tons).

Their three 1,800-horsepower (1,300 kW) 10-cylinder 13D100 two-stroke opposed-piston diesel engines are coupled to generators that power electric propulsion motors driving two propellers in the stern.

[1] The first of eight Project 97P patrol ships was laid down at Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad on 31 July 1972, launched on 28 February 1973, and delivered on 30 December 1973.

[2] The ship was named after Ivan Osipovich Susanin, an early 17th century Russian national hero and martyr and joined the Soviet Navy Red Banner Pacific Fleet.