The project of a scout cruiser surpassing Japanese armored cruisers in terms of speed and firepower appeared between 1897 and 1898. One of the ships in the series was to be built by the AG Vulcan shipyard in Germany. Having entered service, Bogatyr joined the Pacific Squadron as part of the Vladivostok cruiser squadron. After the end of the Russo-Japanese War, the cruiser was transferred to the Baltic Fleet and took an active part in World War I.