The ship was built under the squadron scout cruiser program for the Pacific Fleet. After being commissioned, she was used as a station ship in the port of Chemulpo. The port was blockaded when the Russo-Japanese War broke out. In 1904, Varyag and gunboat Korietz attempted to break through and engage a Japanese squadron of six cruisers. In the face of such overwhelming odds, the heavily damaged Varyag retreated to port and was scuttled. In 1905, Varyag was salvaged by the Japanese and repaired. She served with the Imperial Japanese Navy under the name of Soya.