The Kashin class ship was designed to fulfill a variety of roles including anti-air and antisubmarine operations to defend task forces from submarines, low-flying aircraft, and cruise missiles. The ship’s hull is divided into separate compartments by 13 main watertight bulkheads, that extent to the upper deck. These bulkheads ensure that buoyancy remains stable if any three adjacent compartments are flooded. The Kashin class was commissioned in 1962, and was the first class of warship to be equipped with gas turbines. The Kashin’s four gas-outlet pipes allow the gas turbines to be replaced through their access holes. It has a top speed of 37 knots.

These ships were redesignated many times. They were originally designed as guard ships (storozhevoy korabl` - SKR). But on 19 May 1966 they were reclassified as large anti-submarine ships (bol`shoy protivolodochny korabl`- BPK). On Jan 1992 the remaining unmodified ships that were still in service at this time, were redesignated guard ship (SKR).

The Russian Navy had ordered industries to produce 20 ships. 15 of them were laid down at 61 Kommunar (Nikolayev) Yard, 5 were laid down at Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad. The 20th ship was completed as an advanced project 61M. 5 other ships of project 61 were upgraded to similar project 61MP after some years of service. The modernizations included - installation of 4 launchers for SSM, new sonar "Platina" and replacement of the 2 RBU-1000 with 4 x 30mm AK-630. Also, special for Indian Navy was designed project 61ME (5 ships).

Large ASW Destroyer "Smetlivy": laid down 15.07.1966 and 15.06.1968 is enlisted in the lists of the Soviet Naval ships. Launched 26.08.1967, commissioned 25.09.1969 and 21.10.1969 is switched on in structure of the Black Sea Fleet.

06-12.03.1973 - visit in Syria;
26.09-01.10.1973 - in Split (Yugoslavia);
09-13.08.1974 - in Varna (Bulgaria);
26.06-01.07.1980 - in Tunis.

19.02.1987 is put in Sevastopol on repair. Was modernized per 1990-95 years on new Project 01090 (not a standart Kashin Mod Class - installed submarine-search device MNK-300 and replaced 2 RBU-1000 with launchers for SSM "Uran" - SS-N-25 'Switchblade').

In 2003 in structure of group of the ships of the Black Sea fleet participated in the joint ocean doctrines at the Indian ocean together with russian Pacific fleet and with Naval forces of India. At the present moment is on a service.