[6] Vasily Bykov, along with the Slava-class cruiser Moskva, took part in the attack on Snake Island on 24 February 2022 during the first day of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

[7] On 7 March 2022, the Ukrainian authorities claimed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had attacked Vasily Bykov using a shore based multiple rocket launcher system off the coast of Odesa, stating that the ship had been heavily damaged or even sunk.

[13][3] On 1 August 2023, the Ministry of Defence of Russia claimed that a Ukrainian attack with three naval drones on Vasily Bykov and another Russian project 22160 patrol ship, Sergey Kotov, had been repelled.

[15] On 13 August, Russia announced that Vasily Bykov had opened warning fire from automatic weapons to stop the Palauan-flagged cargo ship Sukru Okan, which was navigating through the Black Sea, after it failed to respond to a Russian request to inspect it.

Vasily Bykov and another warship were puportedly escorting two merchant vessels, Yaz and Ursa Major, the latter an alleged arms-runner, heading towards Istanbul.