This is the lead vessel in a series of two vessels of the 12883M project developed by the Vostok Design Bureau (ЦКБ "Восток") for mineral exploration.
It is designed to carry out geological surveys of the seabed and deep ocean zones, prospecting and exploration of minerals, environmental monitoring, search and survey of various underwater objects, and engineering and geological studies of bottom soils.
In February 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on a vessel operated by the sanctioned russian state-owned multidisciplinary geological holding Rosgeologia JSC (АО "Росгеология") through its sanctioned subsidiary Yuzhmorgeologia JSC (АО "Южморгеология"). Rosgeologia JSC (АО "Росгеология") and its subsidiaries provide a range of geophysical services for the prospecting and exploration of oil and gas fields in the russian federation, and are controlled by the russian government. Rosgeologia JSC (АО "Росгеология") and its subsidiaries carry out hydrocarbon and solid mineral exploration operations in more than ten countries.

The vessel is designed to conduct comprehensive geological and geophysical research for the prospecting and exploration of solid minerals in the World Ocean; to perform comprehensive geological surveys of economic zones and testing with sample analysis of seabed material; to carry out environmental monitoring; hydrophysical and hydrobiological research; searches and photographic/television surveys of sunken objects; and testing of new technical equipment for the study and development of the mineral resources of the World Ocean.
In February 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel, which is operated by the sanctioned russian state-owned multidisciplinary geological holding Rosgeologia JSC (АО "Росгеология") through its sanctioned subsidiary Yuzhmorgeologia JSC (АО "Южморгеология"). Rosgeologia and its subsidiaries provide a full range of geophysical services for the prospecting and exploration of oil and gas fields within russia and are controlled by the russian government. They also conduct hydrocarbon and solid mineral exploration operations in more than ten countries.

The russian oceanographic research vessel, the lead ship of Project 22010 "Kryus," is nominally designed to study the thickness of the World Ocean and its bottom, belongs to and is operated by JSC Yuzhmorgeologiya, one of the leading scientific and production divisions of JSC Rosgeologia, which has more than 65 years of practical experience in conducting marine and land geological exploration work.
The vessel was built at the Baltic Shipyard (Kaliningrad) by order of the Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research, a secret division of the russian Ministry of Defense.
In fact, the vessel is operated under the supervision of the Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research of the russian Ministry of Defense.
The Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research (military unit No. 45707) plans and carries out special secret missions, including:
- deep-sea research of the seabed,
- reconnaissance of underwater global infrastructure,
- installation of various equipment on the seabed,
- collection and recovery of debris, equipment from sunken sea and air vessels, satellites to obtain information about the level of technological development of potential adversaries,
- study of human physiology in extreme underwater conditions,
- conducting rescue operations.
It is considered that the Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research plans and controls deep sea sabotage and reconnaissance missions in the interests of the russian federation.
The hydrographers of this military unit are engaged not only in reconnaissance activities, but also in planning and preliminary preparation of large-scale sabotage operations on transatlantic fiber-optic communication lines between Europe and North America.
The ship can carry helicopters on board and is equipped with special underwater vehicles that can dive to a depth of about 6,000 meters. It is equipped with information gathering equipment and can carry manned and unmanned deep-sea submarines. The ship is likely capable of intercepting military communications and internet cables and installing explosives that can be detonated in the future.
The ship can be used for reconnaissance and sabotage against the underwater infrastructure of NATO and EU member states, especially in the Baltic, Barents, and North Seas.
The vessel is believed to be part of a flotilla of russian vessels that participated in a 13-month campaign to monitor the underwater infrastructure of NATO and EU member states, which began in the fall of 2023, particularly in the Irish Sea between the UK and Ireland, and along submarine cables between mainland Norway and the Svalbard archipelago, among other locations.
Vessels and ships associated with the Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research are based in Gadzhiyevo, a strategically important location in the Kola Bay of the Barents Sea.
Today, russia maintains a fleet of research vessels that serve civilian, research, and military purposes and are considered a key element of russian naval strategy, especially in the field of deep-sea exploration and sabotage. The russian fleet retains significant experience and specialized capabilities for underwater operations, supported by a special department for deep-sea sabotage and reconnaissance.