On August 14, 1904, a fierce battle took place between the Vladivostok squadron of cruisers and the Japanese fleet, during which the cruiser 'Rurik' heroically perished. The feat of its crew is comparable to that of the 'Varyag', and in terms of intensity and tragedy, it even surpasses it. However, fate has decreed that the name 'Varyag' remains in memory, while few know of 'Rurik' today.

At dawn on August 11, 1904, the cruisers 'Rossiya' under the command of Captain 1st Rank A. Andreev, 'Rurik' under Captain 1st Rank E. Trusov, and 'Gromoboy' under Captain 1st Rank N. Dabitsh, led by Rear Admiral K. Iessen, set out to sea. Their task was to support the breakthrough of the Port Arthur squadron to Vladivostok. However, the order was delayed, and the squadron, heavily battered in battle, returned to Port Arthur without managing to break through. 'Rossiya', 'Rurik', and 'Gromoboy' were heading towards Tsushima, unaware that no one was waiting for them.

Early in the morning of August 14, in the Korea Strait, 40 miles from the port of Fuzan (Busan), the Japanese fleet intercepted the Vladivostok squadron of cruisers and attacked the Russian ships, cutting off their retreat routes. 'Rossiya', 'Rurik', and 'Gromoboy' found themselves trapped. The Japanese outnumbered them in personnel, artillery, speed, and armor. In the fierce battle, 'Rurik', being the last in line, found itself in the most difficult position as it was subjected to the main fire. 'Rossiya' and 'Gromoboy', having sustained damage, tried to cover it and distract the Japanese, but the enemy did not retreat.

Wounded in the unequal battle, 'Rurik' was sinking in the sea, shrouded in steam from its shattered boilers, and seemed an easy target. The Japanese hoped to capture it. However, the junior artillery officer Lieutenant Konstantin Ivanov, who took command of the cruiser after the death of the commander and senior officers, and the surviving crew members were not going to surrender. They stood to the death. When 'Rurik's' guns went out of action, the Japanese closed in. The crew made a desperate attempt to ram the nearest ship, and a torpedo was launched at the cruiser 'Izumo'.

The Japanese ships retreated and opened fire again. By the end of the battle, there were 14 of them against one. By 10 a.m., after five hours of fighting, 'Rurik' had been turned into a pile of twisted iron and was miraculously still afloat. The Japanese approached again. To prevent 'Rurik' from falling into enemy hands, Lieutenant Ivanov ordered the kingstons to be opened. Admiral Kamimura, realizing that the Russians would not surrender, ordered a barrage of fire. Before sinking the ship, Lieutenant Ivanov ordered to abandon 'Rurik', and the wounded were thrown overboard.

At 10:42 on August 14, 1904, the armored cruiser 'Rurik', with the Andreevsky flag raised and the signal 'I perish, but do not surrender!' went under water. 204 people perished on 'Rurik', and 305 were wounded. The fallen remained on the bottom of the Korea Strait. 'Rossiya' and 'Gromoboy' lost 129 men. Historians wrote: 'One must be made of iron to endure such a hellish battle.'