Sposobny cruised in the Indian and the Pacific Oceans during 1973–1974, 1983, and 1985, punctuated by a 1976 goodwill visit to Vancouver, Canada, and active support to Vietnam during the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War.

A planned modernization in 1987 at the Sevastopol Marine Plant in Ukraine was never completed due to the fall of the Soviet Union and she was transferred to the Russian Navy despite a failed Ukrainian attempt to take control.

It was designed to defend larger warships and transports against low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles, and submarines,[2] though the anti-submarine role ultimately became secondary to its air defense mission.

They were the first class of Soviet warships designed to survive a nuclear explosion, and as a result had the main ship control station on the lower deck deep in the hull, separate from the enclosed bridge.

Sposobny also had a MG-26 communications outfit, a Triton transceiver, the MPP-315 remote indicator for her Volga, and the Nikel-KM identification friend or foe system.

[4][6] Built in the 61 Communards Shipyard in Nikolayev with the serial number 1713, the destroyer was laid down on 10 March 1969, launched on 11 April 1970, and completed on 25 September 1971.

[9] As part of a fleet detachment with Udaloy-class destroyer Gnevny and the tanker Ilim under the flag of squadron commander Kontr-admiral Vladimir Varganov, she visited Vancouver, Canada from 25 to 30 August 1976, being open to public viewing.

[14] To provide space for the equipment the aft gun turret was to be removed and the complex was to be installed at the stern helicopter pad, with two sponsons for lowering towed antennas.

[15] Due to the fall of the Soviet Union, the modernization was not completed, and on 29 October 1992 the transfer to the Black Sea Fleet was made permanent.

Relocated from the North Dock to Yuzhnaya Bay to remove weapons and equipment, she was stripped by 20 November, when the crew was disbanded and the ship became property of the plant.