The Vishnya class (Project 864), also known as the Meridian class, is a Soviet-designed signals intelligence collection ship class built in Poland for the Soviet and later Russian Navy. The ships are purpose-built SIGINT and COMINT collectors with satellite-link antennas, a modest self-defense fit, and long-endurance blue-water service, while the Priazovye hull was sent into the eastern Mediterranean during the 2013 Syria crisis.
The Vishnya-class SSV-201 Priazovye was sent from Sevastopol toward the Syrian coast/eastern Mediterranean in 2013 to monitor the situation during heightened tensions over possible Western strikes on Syria. This indicates intelligence-collection employment connected to the Syrian Civil War.
Russia said the Vishnya-class Priazovye was attacked by Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels in June 2023 while patrolling near the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the Black Sea. This supports conflict use as maritime intelligence/security patrol activity.
Timeline
KCHF records Priazovye as being laid down at the Stocznia Polnocna shipyard in Gdansk, Poland.
Sources: Intelligence Ship Priazovye - Project 864 / Vishnya class
KCHF records the ship's launch on 30 September 1986.
Sources: Intelligence Ship Priazovye - Project 864 / Vishnya class
KCHF records Priazovye's commissioning on 18 May 1987.
Sources: Intelligence Ship Priazovye - Project 864 / Vishnya class
KCHF states that Priazovye's electronic intelligence equipment was modernized in 2008.
Sources: Intelligence Ship Priazovye - Project 864 / Vishnya class
The Guardian reported that Russia dispatched Priazovye to the Syrian coast and eastern Mediterranean to keep tabs on the situation during the crisis surrounding possible US strikes.
Sources: Syrian regime continues to redeploy forces away from US missile targets, Russian warships cross Bosphorus, en route to Syria
