Kijew was a Soviet light aircraft carrier with classic propulsion. The keel was laid under this unit in 1970, the launch took place in December 1972, and entry into service took place in 1975. The total length of the ship was 273 meters, the overall width was 32.7 meters, and her full displacement was about 38,000 tons. The maximum speed was up to 32 knots. The on-board armament included: 4 twin SS-N-12 rocket launchers, two SA-N-3 twin rocket launchers, two 76.2 mm twin cannons, and eight 30 mm AK-630 sets. The aircraft carrier could take on board up to 28 aircraft, including, for example, Ka-25 or Ka-27 helicopters or Jak-38 planes.
Kiev was the leading unit of the class of ships of the same name - Kiev (Kyiv, project 1143). This type of units was built on the basis of the experience gained from the operation of Moscow-class aircraft cruisers. Similarly to them, they have powerful on-board armament, corresponding to more than one destroyer of that time, but they also have a much more extensive air deck that allows the operation of Yak-38 planes. The main task of the Kijew type ships was to combat submarines (ZOP) - especially the American SSBN units armed with Polaris missiles. In peacetime, they played primarily a propaganda role and were to represent the naval power of the Soviet Union. The leading vessel of this class, i.e. Kiev, was built on the Black Sea in Nikolaev. After entering service, the unit was assigned to the Northern Fleet, which meant a voyage through the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. In the late 1970s and 1980s, the unit operated primarily in the Mediterranean basin and took part in numerous Soviet maneuvers from that time. In the years 1982-194, the unit underwent modernization, which mainly included its electronic equipment. The unit was finally decommissioned in 1993. The disarmed ship was purchased by the PRC, towed to this country and converted into a museum ship and entertainment center, a role it has been serving since 2004.