In November, "Rurik" was modified to serve as a fast minelayer with provisions to carry naval mines. She carried out her first operation on 14 December under the command of Admiral Ludvig Kerber, in company with the cruisers and , while another pair of cruisers covered another minelayer further north. "Rurik" laid a field of 120 mines off the German port at Danzig during the operation. On 12 January 1915, "Rurik" sortied for another minelaying operation, this time part of the escort force with "Bayan" and "Admiral Makarov". Over the following two days, three other cruisers laid a series of minefields off the island of Rügen; this was the furthest west the Russian fleet penetrated during the war. This minefield later damaged the German cruisers and , the latter beyond the point of repair.