The vessel was reclassified a Large Rocket Ship (Russian: Ракетные крейсера проекта, RKR) in 1977 to reflect its multi-purpose capability.

The vessel observed the 1986 United States bombing of Libya and undertook good will visits to Annaba, Algeria, and Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, as well as Tripoli and Tobruk.

The ship carried 1,690 t (1,660 long tons) of fuel oil, which gave a range of 10,500 nautical miles (19,446 km; 12,083 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).

[8] For the anti-surface warfare role, Vitse-Admiral Drozd was originally intended to mount the P-500 Bazalt (NATO reporting name SS-N-12 'Sandbox') missile, but protracted development meant that instead the same 4K44 missiles (NATO reporting name SS-N-3 'Shaddock') as carried by the Project 58 warships were mounted, although they were launched from two specially designed twin KT-35-1134 P-35 launchers carried midships.

[4] A landing pad and hangar was fitted aft for a ranging Kamov Ka-25T helicopter (NATO reporting name 'Hormone-B') to enable mid-course guidance.

[7] Between January 1980 and March 1983, the ship was upgraded with four six-barrel 30 mm (1 in) AK-630 close-in weapon systems, with their attendant fire control radars, installed near the bridge to improve anti-missile defence.

[17] Commissioned on 27 December 1968, Vitse-Admiral Drozd joined the Baltic Fleet as part of the 120th Missile Ship Brigade (Russian: бригада ракетных кораблей) on 5 May 1969.

[18] After operating in the Northern Atlantic Ocean between 4 and 16 June, covering a distance of 3,792 nautical miles (7,023 km; 4,364 mi), the ship took part in the naval exercises Kolskiy Bereg between 12 and 15 August 1969 and Okean-70 between 10 March and 22 April 1970, followed by cruises in the Norwegian Sea.

On 13 April, while undertaking reconnaissance off the north-east coast of Ireland, the warship identified and successfully tracked an unknown submarine, maintaining contact for 8 hours and 54 minutes.

[21] Vitse-Admiral Drozd crossed the equator for the first time on 14 or 17 February 1972, but returned to the Bay of Biscay to take part in the rescue operation for the Project 658 submarine K-19 between 3 and 20 March.

[21] On 20 June 1980, the ship's keel was damaged in an accident with Project 670 submarine K-508, which was repaired as part of a refit and upgrade that took place at Kronshtadt between 10 January 1981 and March 1984.

The ship was back in Severomorsk on 10 May 1984, but spent the between 15 January and 4 June 1985 operating in the Mediterranean Sea as part of a task force led by the aircraft carrier Kiev alongside the Project 1134A Berkut A warship Marshal Timoshenko.

Vitse-Admiral Drozd entered Tripoli harbour after the attack as a symbol of solidarity with the Libyan government, and also undertook a good will visit to Tobruk.