Voevoda is among the most enigmatic vessels built in Russia in recent years. It presently stands as the sole representative of Project 23700. In 2025, the Baltic Shipyard Yantar effectively concluded all testing phases of the vessel and transferred it to operational service.
The 111-meter-long vessel, with a displacement of approximately 7,500 tons, is officially designated “to facilitate search-and-rescue operations, as well as the transportation and provisioning of tiny search-and-rescue craft.” Simultaneously, specialized sources offer two separate viewpoints on the actual objective of Voevoda.
Project 23700: History of Design and Construction
Project 23700 was designed by experts from the Northern Design Bureau (Severnoye PKB) in Saint Petersburg. Construction commenced at the Baltic Shipyard Yantar in the Kaliningrad Region in 2017.
It was reported at the time that this vessel would serve as the lead ship of the operation, indicating that a series of vessels was anticipated, with initial delivery scheduled for 2019–2020. However, Voevoda commenced factory sea trials only at the conclusion of 2023. The testing procedure required an additional two years. By the conclusion of 2025, information was ultimately disclosed confirming that the vessel had been commissioned into operational service.
The “Yacht” Edition: Media Speculation
Several Russian and international publications rushed to assert that Voevoda was not a rescue vessel but rather a so-called “luxury yacht for high-ranking officials.” As often the case, the first source of this assertion was, in April 2017, a reputable publication. As is customary, anonymous sources were referenced:
“Several interlocutors in the industry believe that, judging by its appearance (the image of the future vessel was published on Yantar’s official website), the ship looks more like a yacht than an emergency rescue vessel. ‘There are no cranes, no crane beams—nothing,’ one of the interlocutors told Kommersant. ‘This is, of course, a yacht—absolutely for sure. Obviously, it is intended for voyages in northern seas,’ another source said.”
This version, notwithstanding its weak evidence basis, remains in circulation into 2025, being reiterated by numerous technical blogs and secondary sources.
“The Ship Will Be One of a Kind”
The same source added another remark:
“‘The ship will be one of a kind,’ claims a source in the industry. ‘Judging by the project code, we are talking about a military vessel,’ another interlocutor reasons.”
This claim is worth remembering when compared against later industry publications.
What the Shipbuilding Industry Says
On April 7, 2025, the specialized portal sudostroenie released an article regarding the development of fastening components and blade coverings for controllable-pitch propellers designed for a Project 23700 special-purpose vessel.
Importantly, the article explicitly mentions Project 23700 vessels in the plural and indicates that the work is being performed to facilitate the continued use of domestically manufactured components. Once again, the stated objective of the initiative is to facilitate emergency rescue operations.
Rescue Vessel, Not a Private Yacht
Within the professional shipbuilding community, Voevoda is routinely designated as a specialized rescue and support vessel. The “yacht” narrative predominantly resides outside the industry, driven primarily by initial speculation rather than concrete technical evidence.
The GUGI Theory
Some international observers have sought to link Voevoda to the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI) of the Russian Ministry of Defense. According to this theory, the vessel purportedly transports covert submerged equipment and is visually concealed as a civilian-oriented ship.
There is no official affirmation to substantiate this assertion, nor is there any verified evidence indicating that Voevoda has been assigned to GUGI. Therefore, this interpretation continues to be speculative.
Altitude Addicts Analysis: What the Images Themselves Suggest
An independent visual examination of Voevoda, carried out by Altitude Addicts (a technology focussed Youtube Channel) using exclusively publicly accessible imagery, facilitates several cautious yet significant observations without dependence on official statements or unproven theories.
Primarily, the vessel’s exterior does not bear resemblance to that of a conventional combat vessel. There are no detectable heavy weapon systems, rifle mounts, missile launchers, or close-in weapon systems. This alone strongly indicates that Voevoda is not designed for frontline naval engagement but rather for a strategic auxiliary or specialized function.
Simultaneously, it is evident that the vessel is not a typical civilian rescue ship. The hull and superstructure exhibit a distinct angular design, with inclined surfaces and a significant minimization of exposed external detritus. Although not a stealth vessel in the strict sense, this design demonstrates a deliberate focus on radar signature reduction, a feature seldom addressed on strictly humanitarian platforms. This suggests an anticipation that the vessel may operate within monitored or sensitive maritime regions, where survivability and discretion are of importance.
The superstructure is characterized by a dense array of radomes, antennas, and communications equipment arranged across multiple levels. This indicates a vessel that depends significantly on satellite communications, data transmission, and networked coordination. Such a configuration aligns with a vessel intended to serve as a mobile hub for command, control, or coordination functions, rather than solely as a transporter of equipment.
Large side openings housing enclosed boats are visible along the hull. These vessels seem considerably larger than conventional lifeboats and are evidently designed for specific missions. Combined with the vessel’s broad beam and substantial freeboard, this suggests an effective capacity for launching and recovering auxiliary vessels in open-sea conditions, potentially encompassing specialized boats, remotely operated vehicles, or unmanned surface or underwater systems.
The overall proportions of the vessel, combined with the limited number of crew members visible on deck, suggest capabilities for sustained, long-duration operations supported by a high level of onboard automation. This aligns with current Russian auxiliary vessel construction trends, which progressively emphasize minimized personnel complements and versatile, multi-role capabilities.
Finally, the vessel’s distinctive paint design, featuring undulating patterns of dark blue and light gray, distinguishes it from conventional naval gray and civilian livery. Although not camouflage in the conventional sense, it enhances visual ambiguity and reinforces the perception of a vessel intended to resist straightforward classification from a distance.
Taken together, the imagery indicates that Voevoda is most accurately characterized as a next-generation strategic support vessel. It seems designed primarily to facilitate rescue operations, specialized missions, support for autonomous systems, and coordination activities, rather than to exert force directly. This interpretation does not rely on assumptions regarding clandestine weaponry or intelligence operations, yet it unequivocally positions Project 23700 as far exceeding the capabilities of a standard rescue vessel.
A Vessel Enshrouded in Enigma
Thus, Voevoda continues to be enveloped in an aura of mystery—not due to established secrecy, but because its design markedly diverges from conventional classifications. It is neither a luxurious yacht nor a standard rescue vessel, and certainly not a military combatant.
The reality seems more nuanced and intriguing: Voevoda represents a contemporary Russian strategy for maritime support platforms, integrating endurance, discretion, modularity, and sophisticated communications within a unified hull. The enigma, it appears, resides less in concealed equipment and more in how these vessels integrate into the evolving framework of naval operations in the twenty-first century.