Russian-Turkish War 1768-1774 (briefly)

Russian-Turkish War 1768-1774 (briefly)

In the winter of 1768-1769, the Russian-Turkish War begins. Russian troops under the command of Golitsyn cross the Dniester and capture the Khotin fortress, entering Iasi. As a result, all of Moldova takes an oath to Catherine II.

At the same time, the new empress, together with her favorites, the Orlov brothers, built rather daring plans, hoping to expel all Muslims from the Balkan Peninsula. To accomplish this, the Orlovs propose to send agents and raise Balkan Christians to revolt against the Muslims, and then send Russian squadrons to support the Aegean Sea.

In the summer, the flotillas of Elphinston and Spiridov sailed to the Mediterranean from Kronstadt, which, upon arriving at the site, were able to incite a rebellion. But he was suppressed faster than Catherine II expected. At the same time, the Russian generals managed to win a stunning victory at sea. They drove the enemy into Chesme Bay and completely defeated them. By the end of 1770, the squadron of the Russian Empire captured about twenty islands.

Operating on land, Rumyantsev's army managed to defeat the Turks in the battles of Cahul and Larga. These victories gave Russia all of Wallachia and there were no Turkish troops left in the north of the Danube.

In 1771, V. Dolgoruky’s troops occupied the entire Crimea, placed garrisons in its main fortresses and placed Sahib-Girey on the khan’s throne, who swore allegiance to the Russian empress. The squadrons of Spiridov and Orlov made long raids to Egypt and the successes of the Russian army were so impressive that Catherine wanted to annex Crimea as quickly as possible and ensure independence from the Muslims of Wallachia and Moldova.

However, such a plan was opposed by the Western European Franco-Austrian bloc, and Frederick the Second the Great, who was a formal ally of Russia, behaved treacherously, putting forward a project according to which Catherine had to give up a large territory in the south, receiving Polish lands as compensation. The Empress accepted the condition, and this plan was implemented in the form of the so-called Partition of Poland in 1772.

At the same time, the Ottoman Sultan wanted to get out of the Russian-Turkish war without losses and in every possible way refused to recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its independence. After unsuccessful peace negotiations, the Empress orders Rumyantsev to invade with an army beyond the Danube. But it didn’t bring anything outstanding.

And already in 1774 A.V. Suvorov managed to defeat the forty-thousand-strong Turkish army at Kozludzha, after which the Kaynardzhi Peace was signed.

To develop trade, Russia needed access to the 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 by the Ottoman Empire as 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. This was the real reason for the outbreak of a 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 near the village of Brody in readiness 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 the Turkish army tried to cross the Dniester, but it 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 military operations, and at the same time, in the event of a Turkish offensive, protect the western borders of Russia, or even launch an offensive himself. 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 of offensive operations, the right to negotiate and conclude peace.

With the campaign of 1774, Rumyantsev decided to end the war. According to Rumyantsev's strategic plan that year, it was envisaged that military operations would be transferred 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. The Crimean Khanate was 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 the practical experience of crossing large water obstacles (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 passage in history from the Baltic to the eastern part of the 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.

Russian foreign policy under Catherine II was different:

establishing closer relations with European countries;

Russian military expansion.

The main geopolitical achievements of Catherine II’s foreign policy were:

conquering access to the Black Sea and annexing Crimea to Russia;

the beginning of Georgia's annexation to Russia;

liquidation of the Polish state, annexation of all Ukraine (except for the Lvov region), all of Belarus and Eastern Poland to Russia.

During the reign of Catherine II there were a number of wars:

Russian-Turkish war 1768 - 1774;

capture of Crimea in 1783;

Russian-Turkish war 1787 - 1791;

Russian-Swedish war 1788 - 1790;

partitions of Poland 1772, 1793 and 1795

The main reasons for the Russian-Turkish wars at the end of the 18th century. were:

the struggle for access to the Black Sea and the Black Sea territories;

fulfillment of allied obligations.

The reason for the Russian-Turkish war of 1768 - 1774. there was an increase in Russian influence in Poland. The war against Russia was started by Turkey and its allies - France, Austria and the Crimean Khanate. The goals of Turkey and the allies in the war were:

strengthening the positions of Turkey and allies in the Black Sea;

striking a blow to Russia's expansion through Poland into Europe. The fighting took place on land and at sea and revealed the leadership talent of A.V. Suvorov and P.A. Rumyantseva.

The most important battles of this war were.

victory of Rumyantsev in the battle of the Ryabaya Mogila and Kagul in 1770;

Chesma naval battle 1770;

victory A.V. Suvorov in the battle of Kozludzha.

The war was successful for Russia; it was stopped by Russia in 1774 due to the need to suppress the uprising of E. Pugachev. The signed Kuchuk-Kanardzhi peace treaty, which became one of the most striking victories of Russian diplomacy, suited Russia:

Russia gained access to the Sea of ​​Azov with the fortresses of Azov and Taganrog;

Kabarda was annexed to Russia;

Russia received a small access to the Black Sea between the Dnieper and Bug;

Moldova and Wallachia became independent states and moved into the zone of Russian interests;

Russian merchant ships received the right of passage through the Bosporus and Dardanelles;

The Crimean Khanate ceased to be a vassal of Turkey and became an independent state.

Despite the forced cessation, this war was of great political importance for Russia - victory in it, in addition to extensive territorial acquisitions, predetermined the future conquest of Crimea. Having become a state independent from Turkey, the Crimean Khanate lost the basis of its existence - the centuries-old political, economic and military support of Turkey. Left alone with Russia, the Crimean Khanate quickly fell into the zone of Russian influence and did not last even 10 years. In 1783, under strong military and diplomatic pressure from Russia, the Crimean Khanate disintegrated, Khan Shagin-Girey resigned, and Crimea was occupied by Russian troops almost without resistance and included in Russia.

The next step in expanding the territory of Russia under Catherine II was the beginning of the inclusion of Eastern Georgia into Russia. In 1783, the rulers of two Georgian principalities - Kartli and Kakheti - signed the Treaty of Georgievsk with Russia, according to which allied relations were established between the principalities and Russia against Turkey and Eastern Georgia came under the military protection of Russia.

Russia's foreign policy successes, the annexation of Crimea and rapprochement with Georgia, pushed Turkey to start a new war - 1787 - 1791, the main goal of which was revenge for the defeat in the war of 1768 - 1774. and the return of Crimea. A. Suvorov and F. Ushakov became heroes of the new war. A.V. Suvorov won victories under:

Kinburn - 1787;

Fokshanami and Rymnik - 1789;

Izmail, previously considered an impregnable fortress, was taken - 1790

The capture of Izmail is considered an example of Suvorov's military art and the military art of that time. Before the assault, by order of Suvorov, a fortress was built, repeating Izmail (model), on which soldiers trained day and night to take the impregnable fortress until exhaustion. As a result, the professionalism of the soldiers played its part and came as a complete surprise to the Turks, and Izmail was taken relatively easily. After this, Suvorov’s statement became widespread: “It’s hard in training, but it’s easy in battle.” F. Ushakov's squadron also won a number of victories at sea, the most important of which were the Battle of Kerch and the Battle of the South at Kaliakria. The first allowed the Russian fleet to enter the Black Sea from the Azov Sea, and the second demonstrated the strength of the Russian fleet and finally convinced the Turks of the futility of the war.

In 1791, the Treaty of Iasi was signed in Iasi, which:

confirmed the main provisions of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty;

established a new border between Russia and Turkey: along the Dniester in the west and Kuban in the east;

legitimized the inclusion of Crimea into Russia;

confirmed Turkey's renunciation of claims to Crimea and Georgia.

As a result of two victorious wars with Turkey, carried out during Catherine's era, Russia acquired vast territories in the north and east of the Black Sea and became a Black Sea power. The centuries-old idea of ​​achieving access to the Black Sea has been achieved. In addition, the sworn enemy of Russia and other European nations was destroyed - the Crimean Khanate, which for centuries terrorized Russia and other countries with its raids. Russian victory in two Russian-Turkish wars - 1768 - 1774. and 1787 - 1791 - in its significance it is equal to the victory in the Northern War.

Russian-Turkish War 1787 - 1791 Sweden tried to take advantage, which in 1788 attacked Russia from the north in order to regain the territories lost during the Northern War and subsequent wars. As a result, Russia was forced to simultaneously fight a war on two fronts - in the north and south. In the short war of 1788 - 1790. Sweden did not achieve tangible successes and in 1790 the Revel Peace Treaty was signed, according to which the parties returned to the pre-war borders.

In addition to the south, another direction of Russian expansion at the end of the 18th century. became the western direction, and the object of claims was Poland, once one of the most powerful European states. In the early 1770s. Poland was in a state of deep crisis. On the other hand, Poland was surrounded by three predator states that were rapidly gaining strength - Prussia (the future Germany), Austria (the future Austria-Hungary) and Russia.

In 1772, as a result of the national betrayal of the Polish leadership and strong military-diplomatic pressure from surrounding countries, Poland actually ceased to exist as an independent state, although officially it remained one. The troops of Austria, Prussia and Russia entered the territory of Poland, which divided Poland among themselves into three parts - zones of influence. Subsequently, the boundaries between the occupation zones were revised twice more. These events went down in history as the partitions of Poland:

according to the first partition of Poland in 1772, Eastern Belarus and Pskov went to Russia;

according to the second partition of Poland in 1793, Volyn passed to Russia;

after the third partition of Poland, which occurred in 1795 after the suppression of the national liberation uprising led by Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Western Belarus and Left Bank Ukraine went to Russia (the Lviv region and a number of Ukrainian lands went to Austria, which they were part of until 1918. ).

The Kościuszko Uprising was the last attempt to preserve Polish independence. After his defeat, in 1795, Poland ceased to exist as an independent state for 123 years (until the restoration of independence in 1917 - 1918) and was finally divided between Russia, Prussia (from 1871 - Germany) and Austria. As a result, the entire territory of Ukraine (except for the extreme western part), all of Belarus and the eastern part of Poland went to Russia.

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 this time, large forces of the Turkish army were concentrated on the banks of the Dniester, preparing to march on Kyiv. In addition, Turkey 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.

The Russian Empress understood that the army needed a hero, a person in whom the soldiers believed. As a result, P.A. Rumyantsev, a hero of the Seven Years' War, took command of the Russian army. In September 1769, the Russian army, under the command of Rumyantsev, entered Iasi, and Bucharest was later captured. The second group of 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 of this war took place. 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 major victory was won, 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 and Rumyantsev, as well as thanks to the victories of the 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 as Russian troops inflicted one major defeat after another on the Ottomans during the last three years of the war. Russia needed peace to suppress the peasant war led by Pugachev, which began in 1773.

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) the second direction - the issue of liberation from foreign domination of the lands of Ukraine and Belarus captured by Poland took a significant place in Russia’s foreign policy;
3) third direction. It was predetermined by the Great French Revolution that began in 1789. 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. The capture of Izmail, a fortress that was the stronghold of Turkish rule on the Danube, was also of great importance. In this battle, the future famous commander M.I. distinguished himself. 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 the 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.