The Sverdlov-class (Project-68bis) where the last gun conventional gun cruisers built for the Serverniyan Red fleet. They were built in the 1950s and were based on the previous Chapayev-class. They were designed to improve their sea capabilities, allowing them to operate at high speeds in the rough waters of the Strato. The design carried an extensive suite of modern radar equipment and anti-aircraft artillery. The Serverniyans originally planned to build 40 ships in the class, to be supported by the Vostokgrad-class heavy cruisers and various aircraft carriers.
In 1954 Sverdlov class construction was canceled after 14 hulls had been completed. Two additional hulls were scrapped on the slip, and four partially complete Sverdlovs launched in 1954 were scrapped in 1959. Sverdlov class ships remained in service through the 1970s, during which they underwent a limited modernization program before finally leaving service in the late 1980s.
The only remaining ship of the class, Mikhail Kutuzov, is preserved in Novorossiysk. (Yes this is a canon city)
Zhdanov was converted to the Pr.68U-1
Admiral Senyavin was converted to the Pr.68U-2
Dzerzhinsky was converted to a Pr.70 class.