The Russian-Turkish War of 1768-74.

The Russian-Turkish war of 1768-74 was the fifth military conflict between Russia and the Ottoman Empire.

The main contradiction remained the same - the possession of a free outlet to the Black Sea. And the formal reasons for the Russo-Turkish war can be described as follows: the Russian authorities headed by Catherine II began to actively intervene in the political affairs of Poland, where at that time there was a war of oppositionists from the Bars Confederation and the ruling King Stanislaw Poniatowski. Russian troops fought on the side of the king.

Pursuing the opposition troops, the Russian detachment of the Cossacks invaded the Turkish lands and occupied a small town of Balta. The Turkish authorities, having concluded an alliance with the Polish Confederates and enlisting the support of Austria and France, declared war on Russia on September 25, 1768. So officially began the Russo-Turkish war of 1768-74.

In this war, Turkey aimed to expand its possessions, capturing Kiev, Astrakhan and the Azov Sea; France and Austria hoped to weaken the influence of Russia and restore the former borders of Poland, and the Polish Confederates expected to finally seize power in the country.

Until the end of 1768, the parties did not conduct active military operations, but only tightened their forces and prepared for war. The army under the leadership of General Golitsyn slowly advanced, occupying the territory around the Dniester, towards the fortress Khotyn. And the second Russian army, commanded by General Rumyantsev, was to protect the territory of Ukraine from the Crimean-Turkish raids.

The fighting began in the winter of 1769, when the horse army of the khan of Crimea-Giray invaded Ukrainian lands. As expected, this attack was reflected by the army of Rumyantsev. At the same time, Russian troops captured Taganrog, cleared the way to the Sea of Azov and started the creation of the Azov flotilla.

The Russian-Turkish war of 1768-74 was significant because during it the Ottoman army failed to gain any of the most significant victories. At the same time, the Turkish army suffered its most devastating defeats in the battle of Chesma and in the battle of Cahul.

The Battle of Chesma occurred in late June 1770, when the Russian squadron commanded by Admirals Spiridov and Greig, as a result of a brilliant operation, was able to lock enemy ships in the bay near Chesma and completely destroy the Turkish fleet. As a result of this battle, the Turks consumed 10 thousand, while the Russians - only 11 people.

And in the land battle on July 21, 1770, under Cahul, the future Felmarshal Rumyantsev distinguished himself. His 17,000-strong army was able to defeat the 100,000-strong army of Khalil Pasha. This was due to the brilliant offensive tactics used by Rumyantsev. At some point, when the Turkish troops particularly furiously pressed the Russian troops, Rumyantsev himself rushed into the battle and deployed to attack his soldiers, who began to retreat. Janissaries after the first offensive surrendered, began to take positions and scatter.

As a result of the battle, 1,500 people were lost by the Russians and more than 20,000 by the Turks. After the greatest Cahul victory, the Turkish fortresses of Izmail and Kiliya surrendered.

From 1770 to 1774 years. In the Ottoman Empire, the crisis intensified. In the Caucasus and in the Black Sea area, active military operations were conducted, in which victories over and over again were won by Russian troops. Virtually did not receive the promised assistance from Poland, Austria and France. Therefore, in 1772 the Turkish authorities decided to start negotiations on a truce. The main point on which the parties did not agree - was the fate of the Crimea. The Russian side insisted on the independence of the Crimea, and the Turks refused it in every possible way. Therefore, and not converging in general opinion, the parties resumed military operations.

In the years 1773-74, Russian troops were able to occupy the Crimean peninsula. Especially distinguished army under the command of Suvorov, which won brilliant victories under Girsov, Kozluji and Turtukay.

In Georgia at this time, too, fighting with the Turks, though not as successful as in Moldova and the Crimean steppes. In 1771, Catherine II ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia, since their stay there was further considered useless. Nevertheless, the events in the Caucasus diverted the forces of the Turks from the central theater of military operations, which also had a positive impact on the course of the war.

Finally, the Turkish authorities were forced to sign a peace treaty and fulfill all the conditions that Russia put forward. Thus ended the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-74. This happened in the small Bulgarian town of Kyuchuk-Kainarji in July 1774.

The results of the Russian-Turkish war can be described as follows: The Russian Empire received the territory between the Dnieper and the Bug, including the seacoast and the Crimean fortresses. The Crimean Khanate was declared an independent state, and the Russian merchant fleet was given the right to unimpeded passage through the straits. Thus, Russia was able to fulfill its maximum plan set in the Russian-Turkish war.