The surviving sisters were modified to lay mines shortly after the war began. They laid mines themselves during the war and provided cover for other ships laying minefields. "Admiral Makarov" and "Bayan" fought several inconclusive battles with German ships during the war, including the Battle of Åland Islands in mid–1915, and they also defended Moon Sound during the German invasion of the Estonian islands in late 1917, where "Bayan" was badly damaged. Their 75 mm guns were removed in 1916–17 and replaced by one 8-inch and four 6-inch guns. A pair of anti-aircraft guns were also added. "Admiral Makarov" was in Helsingfors when Finland declared independence in March 1918, and was forced to evacuate even though the Gulf of Finland was still frozen over. She reached Kronstadt after what became known as the "Ice Voyage". The sisters were decommissioned in 1918 and sold for scrap in 1922.