After the German invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) in June 1941, the ship laid minefields and participated in the Siege of Odessa, ferrying men and supplies to the beleaguered city and providing naval gunfire support.

Variations in fuel oil capacity meant that the range of the Gnevnys varied between 1,670 to 3,145 nautical miles (3,093 to 5,825 km; 1,922 to 3,619 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph).

200 (named after 61 Communards) as yard number 1069, Bezuprechny was laid down on 23 August 1936, launched on 25 June 1937, and was completed on 2 October 1939.

[8] When the Germans invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, the ship was assigned to the 2nd Destroyer Division of the Black Sea Fleet.

While providing fire support during the operation, the ship was attacked by Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers of StG 77.

Although she was not hit, splinters from numerous near misses knocked out her power and Besposhchadny had to tow her to Odessa for emergency repairs.

On 8 December she accidentally collided with the steamer SS Mestkom and the resulting hole in her hull required 10 days to repair.

The ship was refitted in May and, together with the light cruiser Molotov, bombarded Axis positions surrounding Sevastopol with 240 shells on 16 June.