The two Khrabryi-class ships of the line proved to be the culmination of a naval expansion program aimed at strengthening the Russian Black Sea Fleet during a period of increased tension with Britain and France over the decline of one of Russia's traditional enemies, the Ottoman Empire.

She remained in service into the next year, and after the start of the Crimean War with the Ottoman Empire in October 1853.

She took part in an effort to transport Imperial Russian Army units to Sukhumi that month, with Khrabryi carrying a group of 955 soldiers to the port to strengthen its defenses.

The ship then joined a squadron commanded by Vice Admiral Pavel Nakhimov; in November, she was badly damaged in storms, forcing her to return to port for repairs and preventing her from taking part in the Battle of Sinop later that month.

France and Britain issued an ultimatum to Russia to withdraw its forces from Rumelia, the Ottoman territories in the Balkans, which the Russians initially ignored, prompting Anglo-French declarations of war in March 1854.