Wars during the reign of Catherine II. Russian-Turkish wars during the reign of Catherine II. Annexation of Crimea to Russia. Beginning of the annexation of Georgia

Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774- one of the key wars between the Russian and Ottoman empires, as a result of which Novorossiya (now southern Ukraine), the northern Caucasus and Crimea became part of Russia.

The war was preceded by an internal crisis in Poland, where there was discord between the szlachta and King Stanisław August Poniatowski, a former lover of the Russian Empress Catherine II, who was dependent on Russian support.

The detachment who were on Russian service Cossacks, pursuing Polish rebel forces, entered the city of Balta, thus invading the territory of the Ottoman Empire. She, in turn, was quick to accuse them of massacring the city’s residents, which was rejected by the Russian side. Taking advantage of the incident, Sultan Mustafa III declared war on Russia on September 25 of the year. The Turks made an alliance with Polish rebels, while Russia was supported by Great Britain by sending military advisers to the Russian fleet.

The Polish rebels were utterly defeated by Alexander Suvorov, after which he moved to the theater of operations against Turkey. In the years Suvorov won several important battles, developing the previous success of Pyotr Rumyantsev at Larga and Cahul.

Naval operations of the Russian Baltic Fleet in the Mediterranean under the command of Count Alexei Orlov brought even more important victories. In the year, Egypt and Syria rebelled against the Ottoman Empire, while its fleet was completely destroyed by Russian ships.

The Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774 was a link in a series of mostly victorious wars for Russia in the southwestern direction (Russian-Turkish wars).

Campaign of 1769

The Russian troops were divided into 3 armies: the main one, under the command of Prince Golitsyn (about 65 thousand), gathered near Kyiv; the second army, Rumyantsev (up to 43 thousand), was supposed to protect our southern borders from Tatar invasions and was located near Poltava and Bakhmut; third army, gen. Olitsa (up to 15 thousand) - near Dubna, was appointed to assist the main one.

The offensive of Rumyantsev, who was in a hurry to forestall the Turks in Moldova, was extremely slowed down by the spring thaw, as well as news of the appearance of plague in the Danube principalities, so that he, moving along the left bank of the Prut, only approached the village on June 2. Tsitsora (30 ver. from Iasi) and then came into contact with our Moldavian corps. Meanwhile, the main forces of the 2nd Army crossed the Bug in early June and settled on the Kodyma River; General Berg's detachment is still assigned for expeditions against the Crimea. The actions of the main army in this campaign were brilliant and were marked by victories at Ryabaya Mogila, Larga, and Kagul, where the Turks and Tatars suffered a terrible defeat. In the Battle of Kagul, the army of the Ottoman Empire numbered 150 thousand people. and 150 guns, and Rumyantsev’s detachment has only 27 thousand people. and 118 guns. The fortresses of Izmail and Kilia surrendered to Repnin’s detachment (who replaced the deceased Shtofeln); Brailov fell in November, and by the end of that month main army settled in apartments in Moldavia and Wallachia.

Actions gr. Panin was also successful: on September 16 he captured Bendery, and on September 28 Akkerman was taken. Almost simultaneously with the Battle of Cahul, the Turks suffered defeat at sea: their fleet, stationed in the bay near the Chesma fortress, was burned by our fire ships. The Russian fleet was commanded by Orlov, Admiral Spiridov and Greig.

The result of the 1770 campaign was:

1. strong Russian occupation of the Danube principalities (the Principality of Moldova and Wallachia),
2. the separation from Turkey of the Budzhak and Edisan hordes, which wandered between the lower reaches of the Dniester and Bug, which in turn influenced the Crimean Tatars.

The replacement of Kaplan-Girey by Selim prepared discord between the Turks and Crimeans, and it was decided to take advantage of this in the next campaign, the main goal of which was the capture of Crimea.

Campaign of 1771

The execution of this enterprise was entrusted to the 2nd Army, the composition of which was strengthened, and the leadership was entrusted to Prince Dolgorukov. Meanwhile, the Sultan, despite enormous difficulties, managed to reorganize his army; significant forces were concentrated in the Danube fortresses, and already in May 1771, Turkish troops began to raid Wallachia and tried to oust Russian troops from there. A series of these attempts, which continued until late autumn, was generally unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Prince Dolgorukov, who set out on a campaign at the beginning of April, captured Perekop at the end of June, and after that Russian troops occupied Kafa (Feodosia) and Kozlov (Evpatoria). Significant assistance to the main forces was provided by the detachment of Prince Shcherbatov, advancing from Genichesk along the Arabat Spit, and the Azov flotilla, led by Senyavin. All these successes, as well as the weakness of the assistance provided by Turkey to the Tatars, persuaded the latter to conclude an agreement with Prince Dolgoruky, according to which Crimea was declared independent under the auspices of Russia. Then, in addition to the garrisons left in some cities, our troops were withdrawn from the Crimea and settled for the winter in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the successes of Russian weapons began to greatly alarm our western neighbors: the Austrian minister Kaunitz, through the Prussian king Frederick II (who was also afraid of the strengthening of Russia), offered the empress his mediation to conclude peace with the Sultan; Catherine rejected this offer, saying that she herself had already ordered negotiations to be opened with the Turks. She really wanted to end her quarrel with Turkey due to the worsened relations with Sweden; misunderstandings with Austria and Prussia were settled mainly through the division of Polish possessions. Almost all of 1772. and the beginning of 1773, negotiations with Turkish commissioners took place in Focsani and Bucharest; but since the Porte, incited by the French ambassador, did not agree to recognize the independence of the Crimea, the war resumed in the spring of 1773.

Campaign of 1773

During April and May 1773, the Russian detachments of Weisman, gr. Saltykova and Suvorova made a series of successful searches on the right bank of the Danube, and on June 9 Rumyantsev himself with the main forces crossed the Danube at the village. Gurobala (approx. 30 ver. below Silistria). On June 18, he approached Silistria, captured its advanced fortifications, but for further actions against the fortress he recognized his forces as insufficient, and upon learning of the approach of 30 thousand Numan Pasha’s army, he retreated to Gurobal.

Weisman was sent to meet the Turks who stopped at Kainarzhi, who on June 22 attacked and defeated the enemy, but was himself killed. Despite this victory, Rumyantsev still did not consider himself strong enough for offensive actions and retreated back across the Danube. Then the Turks themselves went on the offensive: at the beginning of July, a strong detachment of them invaded Mal. Wallachia and took Craiova; but the attempts they made (in August and September) against Zhurzhevo and Girsov ended in failure.

The Empress persistently demanded the resumption of decisive offensive actions beyond the Danube; however, due to the late season, Rumyantsev did not recognize this as possible, but limited himself to sending (at the end of September) the detachments of General Ungern and Prince Dolgorukov to the right bank of the Danube to clear the entire Bulgarian territory from the enemy to the Shumla-Varna line. These detachments defeated the Turks at Karasu, but after Ungern's unsuccessful attack on Varna they returned to the left. the shore where it was located winter apartments the entire army of Rumyantsev; on the right bank only Girsov was occupied by Suvorov’s detachment.

Extremely dissatisfied with the ineffectiveness of the past campaign, Rumyantsev decided, with the onset of spring 1774, to penetrate all the way to the Balkans, despite the fact that his army was very weakened, that he left strong Turkish fortresses in his rear, and that the enemy fleet dominated the Black Sea. To facilitate the actions of Rumyantsev’s army and divert the attention of the Turks, our squadron in the Archipelago was strengthened, and the 2nd Army was assigned to the siege of Ochakov.

By 1768, a situation had developed in which war between Russia and Turkey was inevitable. The Russians wanted access to the Black Sea, while the Turks wanted to expand their empire at the expense of the Black Sea lands of Russia.

As a result, the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774 broke out. This war was started suddenly by the Turks. The Crimean Khan struck at the southern borders of Russia and began moving deeper into the country. At that time large forces The Turkish army was concentrated on the banks of the Dniester, preparing to march on Kyiv. In addition, Türkiye brought its huge fleet into the war, which operated in the Black Sea. The power of the Turkish army was enormous. The Turks outnumbered the Russians. In addition, the surprise attack factor played a huge role. Russia was not ready for war, as a result, in the early years of the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774. passed with the advantage of the Ottoman Empire.

Russian Empress I understood that the army needed a hero, a person in whom the soldiers believed. As a result, the command Russian army Rumyantsev P.A., hero of the Seven Years' War, took over. In September 1769, the Russian army, under the command of Rumyantsev, entered Iasi, and Bucharest was later captured. Second group Russian troops was sent to the Don, where they managed to capture the fortresses of Azov and Taganrog.

In July 1770 the first major battle this war. It happened on the banks of the Larga River. Rumyantsev, whose army was several times smaller than the Turkish army, won a glorious victory that forced the Ottomans to retreat. On July 5, another victory was won. major victory, this time at sea. The Russian fleet, under the command of Spiridov and Orlov, circled Europe and entered Chesme Bay, where the Turkish fleet was located. The Russians won an important naval victory.

Russian-Turkish War 1768-1774 continued, and in 1772 another significant event happened in it. Another Russian army was sent from Poland to Turkish soil, commanded by Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov. This, still young, commander immediately crossed the Danube River in 1773 and captured the important Turkish fortress of Turtukai. As a result of the successful military campaign of Suvorov, Rumyantsev, as well as thanks to the victories Russian fleet, The Ottoman Empire suffered defeat after defeat and lost its power. The Turks could not resist for long; they needed a break. In 1774, Rumyantsev concluded a peace treaty with the Turks. This happened near the town of Kyuchuk-Kainardzhi. As a result of this peace treaty, Russia received the fortress of Kabarda in the Caucasus, as well as the fortresses of Kerch and Yenikale, which were located on the shores of the Sea of ​​Azov. In addition, the Ottoman Empire transferred the lands between southern But and the Dnieper to Russia. This concludes the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774. was over.

Although a peace treaty was signed between Russia and Turkey, everyone understood that it was more of a truce than peace. Turkey needed a respite, since Russian troops had inflicted one thing on the Ottomans during the last three years of the war. major defeat after another. Russia needed peace to suppress the peasant war led by Pugachev, which began in 1773.

To develop trade, Russia needed access to Black Sea coast. However, the government of Catherine 2 sought to postpone the start of the armed conflict until other problems were resolved. But such a policy was regarded Ottoman Empire like a weakness.

Therefore, Turkey declared war on Russia in October 1768; it wanted to take away Taganrog and Azov from it and thus “close” Russia’s access to the Black Sea. That's what it was the real reason unleashing new war against Russia. The fact that France, supporting the Polish confederates, would like to weaken Russia also played a role. This pushed Turkey to war with its northern neighbor. The reason for the opening of hostilities was the attack of the Haidamaks on the border town of Balta. And although Russia caught and punished the culprits, the flames of war flared up.

Russia's strategic goals were broad. The Military College chose a defensive form of strategy, trying to secure its western and southern borders, especially since outbreaks of hostilities arose both here and there. Thus, Russia sought to preserve previously conquered territories. But the option of broad offensive actions was not excluded, which ultimately prevailed.

The military board decided to field three armies against Turkey: the 1st under the command of Prince A.M. Golitsyn, numbering 80 thousand people, consisting of 30 infantry and 19 cavalry regiments with 136 guns with a formation place near Kyiv, had the task of protecting the western borders of Russia and diverting enemy forces. 2nd Army under the command of P.A. Rumyantsev, with 40 thousand people, having 14 infantry and 16 cavalry regiments, 10 thousand Cossacks, with 50 guns, concentrated at Bakhmut with the task of securing the southern borders of Russia. Finally, the 3rd Army under the command of General Olitz (15 thousand people, 11 infantry and 10 cavalry regiments with 30 field guns) gathered at settlement Brody is ready to “join” the actions of the 1st and 2nd armies.

Sultan Mustafa of Turkey concentrated more than 100 thousand soldiers against Russia, thus not gaining superiority in the number of troops. Moreover, three-quarters of his army consisted of irregular units. The fighting developed sluggishly, although the initiative belonged to the Russian troops. Golitsyn besieged Khotyn, diverting forces to himself and preventing the Turks from connecting with the Polish confederates. Even as the 1st Army approached, Moldova rebelled against the Turks. But instead of moving troops to Iasi, the army commander continued the siege of Khotin. The Turks took advantage of this and dealt with the uprising. Until half of June 1769, the commander of the 1st Army, Golitsyn, stood on the Prut. The decisive moment in the struggle came when Turkish army tried to cross the Dniester, but she failed to cross due to the decisive actions of Russian troops, who threw the Turks into the river with artillery and rifle fire. No more than 5 thousand people remained from the Sultal's army of one hundred thousand. Golitsyn could freely go deeper into enemy territory, but limited himself to occupying Khotyn without a fight, and then retreating beyond the Dniester. Apparently, he considered his task completed.

Catherine II, closely following the progress of military operations, was dissatisfied with Golitsyn’s passivity. She removed him from command of the army. P.A. was appointed in his place. Rumyantsev. Things got better.

As soon as Rumyantsev arrived in the army at the end of October 1769, he changed its deployment, placing it between Zbruch and Bug. From here he could immediately begin fighting, and at the same time, in the event of a Turkish offensive, protect the western borders of Russia, or even launch an offensive yourself. By order of the commander, a corps of 17 thousand cavalry under the command of General Shtofeln advanced beyond the Dniester to Moldova. The general acted energetically, and with battles by November he liberated Moldavia to Galati and captured most of Wallachia. At the beginning of January 1770, the Turks tried to attack Shtofeln’s corps, but were repulsed.

Rumyantsev, having thoroughly studied the enemy and his methods of action, made organizational changes in the army. The regiments were united into brigades, and artillery companies were distributed among divisions. The plan for the 1770 campaign was drawn up by Rumyantsev, and, having received the approval of the Military Collegium and Catherine II, acquired the force of an order. The peculiarity of the plan is its focus on the destruction of enemy manpower. “No one takes a city without first dealing with the forces defending it,” Rumyantsev believed.

On May 12, 1770, Rumyantsev’s troops concentrated at Khotin. Rumyantsev had 32 thousand people under arms. At this time, a plague epidemic was raging in Moldova. A significant part of the corps located here and the commander himself, General Shtofeln, died from the plague. The new corps commander, Prince Repnin, led the remaining troops to positions near the Prut. They had to show extraordinary resilience, repelling the attacks of the Tatar horde of Kaplan-Girey.

Rumyantsev brought the main forces only on June 16 and, immediately forming them into battle formation (while providing for a deep detour of the enemy), attacked the Turks at the Ryabaya Mogila and threw them east to Bessarabia. Attacked by the main forces of the Russians on the flank, pinned down from the front and outflanked from the rear, the enemy fled. The cavalry pursued the fleeing Turks for more than 20 kilometers. A natural obstacle - the Larga River - made the pursuit difficult. The Turkish commander decided to wait for the arrival of the main forces, the vizier Moldavanchi and the cavalry of Abaza Pasha. Rumyantsev decided not to wait for the approach of the Turkish main forces and to attack and defeat the Turks in parts. On July 7, at dawn, having made a roundabout maneuver at night, he suddenly attacked the Turks on Larga and put them to flight. What brought him victory? This is most likely the advantage of Russian troops in combat training and discipline over Turkish units, which were usually lost in a surprise attack combined with a cavalry attack on the flank. At Larga, the Russians lost 90 people, the Turks - up to 1000. Meanwhile, the vizier Moldavanchi crossed the Danube with an army of 150 thousand of 50 thousand Janissaries and 100 thousand Tatar cavalry. Knowing about Rumyantsev's limited forces, the vizier was convinced that he would crush the Russians with a 6-fold advantage in manpower. Moreover, he knew that Abaz Pashi was hurrying to him.

This time Rumyantsev did not wait for the main enemy forces to approach. What did the disposition of troops look like near the river? Cahul, where the battle was to take place. The Turks camped near the village of Grecheni near. Cahula. The Tatar cavalry stood 20 versts from the main forces of the Turks. Rumyantsev built an army in five divisional squares, that is, he created a deep battle formation. He placed the cavalry between them. The heavy cavalry of 3,500 sabers under the command of Saltykov and Dolgorukov, together with the Melissino artillery brigade, remained in the army reserve. Such a deep battle formation of the army units ensured the success of the offensive, since it implied a build-up of forces during the offensive. Early in the morning of July 21, Rumyantsev attacked the Turks with three divisional squares and overthrew their crowds. Saving the situation, 10 thousand Janissaries rushed into a counterattack, but Rumyantsev personally rushed into battle and, by his example, inspired the soldiers who put the Turks to flight. The vizier fled, leaving the camp and 200 cannons. The Turks lost up to 20 thousand killed and 2 thousand captured. Pursuing the Turks, Bour's vanguard overtook them at the crossing of the Danube at Kartala and captured the remaining artillery in the amount of 130 guns.

Almost at the same time, on Kagul, the Russian fleet destroyed the Turkish fleet at Chesma. Russian squadron under the command of General A.G. Orlova had almost half the number of ships, but won the battle thanks to the heroism and courage of the sailors and the naval skill of Admiral Spiridov, the actual organizer of the battle. By his order, the vanguard of the Russian squadron entered Chesme Bay on the night of June 26 and, having anchored, opened fire with incendiary shells. By morning, the Turkish squadron was completely defeated. 15 battleships, 6 frigates and over 40 small ships were destroyed, while the Russian fleet had no losses in ships. As a result, Turkey lost its fleet and was forced to abandon offensive operations in the Archipelago and concentrate efforts on the defense of the Dardanelles Strait and coastal fortresses.

Battle of Chesme June 27, 1770 Russian-Turkish War 1768-1774 In order to keep the military initiative in his hands, Rumyantsev sends several detachments to capture Turkish fortresses. He managed to take Ishmael, Kelia and Ackerman. In early November, Brailov fell. Panin's 2nd Army took Bendery by storm after a two-month siege. Russian losses amounted to 2,500 killed and wounded. The Turks lost up to 5 thousand people killed and wounded and 11 thousand prisoners. 348 guns were taken from the fortress. Leaving a garrison in Bendery, Panin and his troops retreated to the Poltava region.

In the campaign of 1771 the main task fell to the 2nd Army, the command of which was taken over from Panin by Prince Dolgorukov - the capture of Crimea. The campaign of the 2nd Army was a complete success. Crimea was conquered without much difficulty. On the Danube, Rumyantsev’s actions were defensive in nature. P.A. Rumyantsev, a brilliant commander, one of the reformers of the Russian army, was a demanding, extremely brave, and very fair person.

The whole of 1772 passed in fruitless peace negotiations mediated by Austria.

In 1773, Rumyantsev's army was increased to 50 thousand. Catherine demanded decisive action. Rumyantsev believed that his forces were not enough to completely defeat the enemy and limited himself to demonstrating active actions by organizing a raid by Weisman’s group on Karasu and two searches for Suvorov on Turtukai. Suvorov had already gained the reputation of a brilliant military leader, who with small forces defeated large detachments of Polish Confederates. Having defeated Bim Pasha's thousand-strong detachment that crossed the Danube near the village of Oltenitsa, Suvorov himself crossed the river near the Turtukai fortress, having 700 infantry and cavalry men with two guns.

When the Russians captured Turtukai, Suvorov sent a laconic report on a piece of paper to the corps commander, Lieutenant General Saltykov: “Your Grace! We won. Glory to God, glory to you.”

At the beginning of 1774, Sultan Mustafa, an enemy of Russia, died. His heir, brother Abdul-Hamid, handed over control of the country to the Supreme Vizier Musun-Zade, who began correspondence with Rumyantsev. It was clear: Turkey needed peace. But Russia also needed peace, exhausted by a long war, military operations in Poland, a terrible plague that devastated Moscow, and finally, to the ever-flaming peasant uprisings in the east, Catherine granted Rumyantsev broad powers - complete freedom offensive operations, the right to negotiate and make peace.

With the campaign of 1774, Rumyantsev decided to end the war. By strategic plan Rumyantsev that year provided for the transfer of military operations beyond the Danube and an offensive to the Balkans in order to break the resistance of the Porte. To do this, Saltykov’s corps had to besiege the Rushchuk fortress, Rumyantsev himself with a detachment of twelve thousand had to besiege Silistria, and Repin had to ensure their actions, remaining on the left bank of the Danube. The army commander ordered M.F. Kamensky and A.V. Suvorov to attack Dobrudzha, Kozludzha and Shumla, diverting the troops of the Supreme Vizier until Rushchuk and Silistria fell. After fierce battles, the vizier requested a truce. Rumyantsev did not agree with the truce, telling the vizier that the conversation could only be about peace.

On July 10, 1774, peace was signed in the village of Kuchuk-Kainardzhi. The port ceded to Russia part of the coast with the fortresses of Kerch, Yenikal and Kinburn, as well as Kabarda and the lower interfluve of the Dnieper and Bug. Crimean Khanate declared independent. The Danube principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia received autonomy and came under the protection of Russia, Western Georgia was freed from tribute.

This was the largest and longest war waged by Russia during the reign of Catherine II. In this war, Russian military art was enriched by the experience of strategic interaction between the army and navy, as well as practical experience crossing large water barriers (Bug, Dniester, Danube).

But the Russian-Turkish war of 1768 - 1774. turned out to be a failure for Turkey. Rumyantsev successfully blocked attempts by Turkish troops to penetrate deep into the country. The turning point in the war was 1770. Rumyantsev inflicted a number of defeats on the Turkish troops. Spiridonov's squadron made the first ever transition from the Baltic to the eastern part Mediterranean Sea, to the rear of the Turkish fleet. The decisive Battle of Chesme led to the destruction of the entire Turkish fleet. And after the Dardanelles were blockaded, Turkish trade was disrupted. However, despite the excellent chances of developing success, Russia sought to conclude peace as quickly as possible. Catherine needed troops to suppress the peasant uprising. According to the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty of 1774, Crimea gained independence from Turkey. Russia received Azov, Lesser Kabarda and some other territories.

In the second half of the 18th century. Russia solved several foreign policy problems:
1) the first direction is south. Russia fought for access to the shores of the Black and Azov seas, development and settlement of the southern black soil steppes. This led to long wars with Turkey and the Crimean Khanate;
2) second direction – in foreign policy activities In Russia, a significant place was occupied by the question of liberation from foreign domination of the lands of Ukraine and Belarus captured by Poland;
3) third direction. It was predetermined by the Great War that began in 1789 French revolution. Russia waged an active struggle against revolutionary France. In the second half of the 18th century. The foreign policy of the Russian government in the southern direction significantly intensified. He was pushed to this by the interests of the country's security and the needs of the nobility, who sought to take possession of the rich southern lands. Industry and trade, which developed rapidly, also dictated the need for access to the Black Sea.

Russo-Turkish wars
In the southern direction, Russia has repeatedly entered into confrontation with Turkey.
1. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1768–1774. Russia managed to recapture Azov and Taganrog from Turkey. In the Battle of Chesma, the Russian fleet defeated the Turkish squadron.
During military operations, Russian troops captured Crimea and could move to Istanbul. At this time, Türkiye asked for peace. In this war, Russian commanders showed their talent: P.A. Rumyantsev, A.V. Suvorov, V.M. Dolgorukov; The actions of the fleet were led by: L.G. Orlov, G.A. Spiridonov and I.S. Greig.
2. In 1787–1791 Russia again entered the war with Turkey. In military operations, Türkiye demanded the return of Crimea from Russia. But the Russian army under the leadership of A.V. Suvorova defeated Turkish military units at Kinburn, Fokshani and on the Rymnik River. G.A. Potemkin occupied the Turkish fortress of Ochakov on the Dnieper estuary. Great importance There was also the capture of Izmail, a fortress that was the citadel of Turkish rule on the Danube. The future distinguished himself in this battle famous commander M.I. Kutuzov. Successful operations at sea were carried out by the Russian fleet, led by Admiral F.F. Ushakov.
As a result of this war:
– Crimea was annexed to Russian Empire;
– the Crimean Khanate, which was a constant source of aggression on the southern borders of Russia, was liquidated;
– Türkiye also recognized Russian patronage of Georgia.

At the end of the 1780s. Russia waged military operations against Sweden, which sought to regain lands lost in the Northern War.

Russia also participated in resolving the Polish issue. As a result of the partitions of Poland (1772–1795), the following were annexed to Russia: Belarus, Right Bank Ukraine, Lithuania, Courland, Volyn.

2.3.1. Causes of the war. In the 80s Relations between Russia and Turkey have worsened

As a result of the actions of Russia, which in 1783 captured Crimea and signed Treaty of Georgievsk from Eastern Georgia about establishing their protectorate there and

Under the influence of the revanchist sentiments of the Turkish ruling circles, fueled by Western diplomacy.

2.3.2. Progress of the war. In 1787, a Turkish landing force tried to take Kinburn, but was destroyed by a garrison under the command of A.V. Suvorov. The situation for Russia became more complicated in 1788 due to the attack on it by Sweden and the need to fight a war on two fronts. However, in 1789 Russia achieved decisive victories - A.V. Suvorov defeated Turkish troops at Focsani and on R. Rymnik.

After the capture of the strategically important fortress of Izmail in 1790 and successful actions Russian Black Sea Fleet under the command F.F. Ushakova, which defeated the Turkish fleet at the cape in 1791 Kaliakria, the outcome of the war became obvious. The signing of peace was also accelerated by Russia's successes in the war with Sweden. In addition, Türkiye could not count on serious support from European countries that were drawn into the fight against revolutionary France.

2.3.3. Results of the war. In 1791, the Treaty of Jassy was signed, which included the following provisions:

The lands between the Southern Bug and the Dniester passed to Russia.

Türkiye confirmed Russia's rights to Kyuchuk-Kainardzhiysky agreement, and also recognized the annexation of Crimea and the establishment of a protectorate over Eastern Georgia.

Russia has pledged to return Turkey Bessarabia, Wallachia and Moldavia, captured by Russian troops during the war.

Russia's successes in the war, its costs and losses significantly exceeded the final gains, which was caused by the opposition of Western countries that did not want its strengthening, as well as the tsarist government's fears of being isolated in conditions when European monarchs, under the influence of events in France, expected internal upheavals in their states and hurried to unite to fight the “revolutionary infection”.

2.6. Reasons for Russia's victories.

2.6.1 . The Russian army gained experience in military operations against well-armed European armies using modern combat tactics.

2.6.2. The Russian army had modern weapons, a powerful fleet, and its generals learned to identify and use the best fighting qualities of the Russian soldier: patriotism, courage, determination, endurance, i.e. mastered the “science of winning.”

2.6.3 . The Ottoman Empire lost its power, its economic and military resources turned out to be weaker than those of Russia.

2.6.4. The Russian government, led by Catherine II, was able to provide the material and political conditions for achieving victory.

1. Russian policy towards Poland

3.1. Plans of Catherine II. At the beginning of her reign, Catherine II opposed the division of Poland, which was experiencing a deep internal crisis, the projects of which were hatched by Prussia and Austria. She pursued a policy of preserving the integrity and sovereignty of the second Slavic state in Europe - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - and hoped to provide there Russian influence due to the support on the throne of the protege of the St. Petersburg court - King S. Poniatowski.

At the same time, she believed that the strengthening of Poland did not meet the interests of Russia and therefore agreed to sign an agreement with Frederick II providing for the preservation of the Polish political system with its rights for every deputy Sejm impose a ban on any bill that ultimately led the country to anarchy.

3.2. The first partition of Poland. In 1768, the Polish Sejm, which experienced direct pressure from Russia, adopted a law that equalized the rights of the so-called Catholics. dissidents(people of other faiths - Orthodox and Protestants). Some of the deputies who disagreed with this decision, having gathered in the city of Bar, created the Bar Confederation and began military operations against the king and the Russian troops located on Polish territory, hoping for help from Turkey and Western countries.

In 1770, Austria and Prussia captured part of Poland. As a result, Russia, which was at that time at war with the Ottoman Empire, agreed to the division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was formalized in 1772. Under this division, it received Eastern Belarus, Austria - Galicia, and Prussia - Pomerania and part of Greater Poland.

3.3. Second partition of Poland. By the beginning of the 90s. under the influence of events in France and Poland's desire to strengthen its statehood (in 1791, the Sejm abolished the veto power of deputies), its relations with Russia deteriorated sharply. The “unauthorized” change in the constitution became the pretext for a new partition of Poland, closely linked with the preparation by European monarchies of intervention in France.

In 1793, as a result of the second partition of Poland, Right Bank Ukraine and the central part of Belarus with Minsk passed to Russia

3.4. Third section. In response to this, a powerful national liberation movement broke out in Poland under the leadership of T. Kosciuszko. However, it was soon suppressed by Russian troops under the command A.V. Suvorov, and in 1795 the third partition of Poland took place.

Along it they went to Russia Western Belarus, Lithuania, Courland and part of Volyn. Austria and Prussia captured the Polish lands themselves, which led to the end of the existence of the Polish state.