Kirov as a missile cruiser rather than a battlecruiser

Is Kirov more accurately described as a large guided-missile cruiser than a battlecruiser?

Yes; large guided-missile cruiser is more precise, although battlecruiser remains an appealing informal description.

Calling Kirov a large guided-missile cruiser is more technically accurate than simply calling it a battlecruiser. The cruiser label describes the ship's modern missile armament and operational role. Battlecruiser remains appealing because it conveys unusual size and prestige through familiar historical shorthand. The exchange shows why a popular classification can survive even when a more precise technical description is available.