Fully laden, the vessels drew 5.35 metres (17.6 ft) of water and had a displacement of 2,935 tonnes (2,889 long tons).

Their three 1,800-horsepower (1,300 kW) 10-cylinder 13D100 two-stroke opposed-piston diesel engines were coupled with generators that powered electric propulsion motors driving two propellers in the stern and a third one in the bow.

Project 97A icebreakers were capable of breaking 70 to 75 centimetres (28 to 30 in) thick snow-covered ice at very slow but continuous speed.

[2] The fourth of twelve Project 97A icebreakers was laid down at Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad on 13 August 1962, launched on 16 March 1963, and delivered to the Far East Shipping Company on 26 July 1963.

[4] Vasiliy Poyarkov was taken out of service in 1988 and, after its name was shortened to Poyar, sold to China for scrapping.