The Project 773 Polnocny-C is a Polish-built Soviet medium landing ship design, larger than earlier Polnocny variants and fitted for beach delivery of troops, armored vehicles, or cargo with onboard rocket and gun armament. The class is represented in the Russia-Ukraine War through Ukraine's Yuri Olefirenko, the former SDK-137/Kirovohrad, whose survival after early capture claims, 2022 activity near Ochakiv, and disputed 2023 loss claim made it one of the most visible Ukrainian Navy surface ships.
Ukraine's Project 773 landing ship Yuri Olefirenko remained in Ukrainian service during the full-scale invasion; official Ukrainian sources describe its combat participation, Naval News documented it active under Russian artillery fire near Ochakiv in June 2022, and Russia later claimed it was struck at Odesa in May 2023, a loss not publicly confirmed by Ukraine at the time.
Role detailsProject 773 identifies the Soviet Polnocny-C medium landing ship batch; RussianShips.info also separates export derivatives by customer and configuration.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Project 773 | Soviet Polnocny-C baseline | RussianShips.info lists eight completed Soviet Project 773 ships built at Stocznia Polnocna in Gdansk. Sources: Medium landing ships - Project 773 |
| Project 773I | Indian export derivative | RussianShips.info lists four earlier Indian Project 773I ships with an 81.32 m hull and 2,600 nmi range at 12 knots. Sources: Medium landing ships - Project 773 |
| Project 773IM | Indian Kumbhir-class derivative | The later Indian 773IM group is listed with a larger displacement and a helicopter pad. Sources: Medium landing ships - Project 773 |
| Project 773K | Iraqi export derivative | RussianShips.info lists three Iraqi Project 773K ships completed at Stocznia Polnocna in the mid-1970s. Sources: Medium landing ships - Project 773 |
| Project 773KL | Libyan export derivative | The Libyan 773KL export group is listed with 1,150/1,300-ton displacement, 15-knot speed, and a helicopter pad. Sources: Medium landing ships - Project 773 |
RussianShips.info lists SDK-135, yard number 773/1, as laid down at Stocznia Polnocna in February 1970.
Sources: Medium landing ships - Project 773
The second Soviet Project 773 ship, later Ukraine's Kirovohrad/Yuri Olefirenko, is listed as commissioned on 31 May 1971.
Sources: Medium landing ships - Project 773
RussianShips.info identifies Ukraine's Kirovograd/Kirovohrad U401 as the former SDK-137 and places its Ukrainian service after the Black Sea Fleet division.
Sources: Medium landing ships - Project 773, Yuri Olefirenko repair completed in Mykolaiv
During Russia's 2014 seizure of Crimea, the ship was briefly taken at Lake Donuzlav and then returned to Ukrainian custody the following month.
Sources: Russia Claims to Have Destroyed Ukrainian Landing Ship
Ukraine renamed the ship for marine officer Yuri Olefirenko; later Ukrainian reporting identifies the ship with the L401 pennant.
Sources: Decree No. 290/2016 on Naming the Kirovohrad Landing Ship for Yuri Olefirenko, Yuri Olefirenko repair completed in Mykolaiv
Ukrainian Military Pages reported that L401 Yuri Olefirenko was due to leave Mykolaiv Shipyard after repairs that began in August 2019.
Sources: Yuri Olefirenko repair completed in Mykolaiv
Naval News geolocated drone footage of Yuri Olefirenko under Russian artillery fire and reported that the ship escaped without a visible direct hit.
Sources: Ukrainian Navy Ship In Dramatic Escape, Survives Russian Artillery Attack, Timeline of Ukraine Invasion: War In The Black Sea
A Ukrainian presidential decree awarded Yuri Olefirenko the honorary distinction For Courage and Bravery; a later Presidency release described its artillery combat section engaging shore and air targets.
Sources: Decree No. 434/2022 on the For Courage and Bravery Honorary Award, President Presented Cross of Military Merit Awards on Ukrainian Statehood Day
Russian and maritime reporting said Moscow claimed Yuri Olefirenko was struck at Odesa; independent verification and Ukrainian confirmation were not available in the immediate reporting.
Sources: Russia Claims to Have Destroyed Ukrainian Landing Ship, Russia Says Destroyed Ukraine's Last Warship
