In the 2000s, Russia began renewing the state-owned icebreaker fleet that, at the time, consisted mainly of Soviet-era vessels dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.

[11] In 2011, the Russian government decided to continue the fleet renewal within the framework of the federal program Development of the Transport System of Russia (2010–2020) with three additional 16-megawatt diesel-electric icebreakers.

[9] Modifications to the original design include, among smaller general improvements, a slightly different diesel-electric power plant configuration and more efficient pulling-type propulsion units where the propeller is facing forward.

[17] The construction of the first Project 21900M icebreaker began at Vyborg Shipyard on 20 August 2012, a month ahead of schedule,[18] and the keel laying ceremony was held on 17 October.

[6] While the ceremonial flag raising was held in Saint Petersburg already on 23 September 2015,[7] the acceptance certificate was not signed until 9 October when the icebreaker had successfully completed its sea trials.

Her two Steerprop SP 110 ARC PULL Z-drive units,[28] each driven by two 4,500-kilowatt (6,000 hp) electric propulsion motors in tandem configuration,[17] were the most powerful mechanical azimuth thrusters in the world at the time of delivery.