The Yurka class were a group of minesweepers built for the Soviet Navy and export customers between 1963 and 1970. The Soviet designation was Project 266 Rubin.
A new ocean minesweeper design was requested in 1957 to follow the T43 class minesweeper into the Soviet Navy. The design was approved in 1959 and entered service in 1963. Major improvements in mine detection and anti mine explosion protection were implemented. Magnetic, acoustic and electric signatures were reduced. The hull was built of low magnetic steel.
About 41 ships were built for the Soviet Navy, One ship was lost to an accidental explosion in the Black Sea in 1989. All the Ships were decommissioned by the mid-1990s
Fours ships transferred in 1969 - in service 2008
Two ships transferred in 1979 - in service 2008
Book: Gardiner. Robert . Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. 1995. Conway Maritime. London. 0-85177-605-1. 34284130. Also published as Book: Gardiner, Robert. Chumbley, Stephen . Budzbon, Przemysław. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. 1995. Naval Institute Press. Annapolis, MD. 1-55750-132-7. 34267261.