The Russo-Turkish War of 1686–1700 was part of the joint European effort to confront the Ottoman Empire. The larger European conflict was known as the Great Turkish War.
The Russo-Turkish War began after the Tsardom of Russia joined the European anti-Turkish coalition (Habsburg monarchy, Poland–Lithuania, Venice) in 1686, after Poland-Lithuania agreed to recognize Russian incorporation of Kiev and the left bank of Ukraine.
Prelude
Prelude to the war should be highlighted by examining the previous war. In 1676, the Russians captured Chyhyryn, thus eliminating Doroshenko. But soon they were forced to defend themselves against the Turks in 1677-1678, who conquered Chyhyryn. In 1689-1690, they strengthened the fortresses on the lower Dnieper, hindering the Cossacks while the Russian government could only watch.It's worth noting that the Turks disapproved of some clauses in the treaty, and after amending it, they firmly maintained that the clause regarding the Cossacks' free pursuits and the condition of preserving the lands conquered by the Turks had been transformed into an obligation on both sides not to build small towns. Russian authority in Zaporizhzhia was completely omitted, and the Russians were also required to pay a "treasury" to the Crimean Khan.
The Russians still tried to defend the right bank, but their efforts were futile. The Russians attempted to negotiate in 1682, but the Crimeans met them with hostility. Moreover, even after the peace treaty, the Tatars continued their raids. This issue required the Tsar's attention, as it undermined prestige and limited the strengthening of Russian influence in the southern direction.
Russo-Turkish relations in 1683–1686
Turks, with a huge army, marched on Vienna under Kara Mustafa Pasha, who besieged it and nearly took it, but was defeated by the Christian army for various reasons. The Holy League saw Russia as a welcome ally, so negotiations between the Poles and the Russians soon began.
In 1683-1684, the Russians sought a revision of the previous treaty, namely the articles that did not suit them, and they also wanted to strengthen their position in relation to the Crimeans, especially their raids, which were troubling the Russian borders. The negotiations failed because, while awaiting a response from Khan Selim, a rebellion was raised against him, and the Russian ambassador, Neplyuev, was unable to achieve anything. Russian diplomats continued to try to revise the treaty, but nothing was resolved. In 1686, the Russians signed an alliance with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and entered the war.
War
Cossack raids of 1686
In 1686, several clashes occurred. Cossacks attacked Temryuk, ravaging its surroundings, and soon laid siege to the Lyutik fortress. Unable to take the city, they retreated. The Turks blocked their path, and the Cossacks, unable to break through, split into detachments. Despite the defeat, the Cossacks soon set out on campaign again. They ravaged the environs of Azov and returned home unopposed. Soon, 600 Cossacks attacked Kyzykermen but were routed, losing 400 Cossacks and one Kalmyk in the battle. As a result of the battle, the Cossacks not only lost a significant number of troops, but also some of them surrendered to the Turks. This defeat was undoubtedly one of the worst for the Cossacks in recent memory, which affected their fighting ability. The defeat was so severe that the Koshevoy Ataman, during his calls for military action against the Turks and Tatars, declared that he did not have the strength for a war with Crimea.
First Crimean campaign (1687)
In 1687, the Crimeans attacked the Tor fortress, defeated the Cossacks, took 200 prisoners and wounded many more, and then withdrew. The Russians and Cossacks prepared for a campaign against Crimea, and on April 27, a large Russian-Cossack army set out. On June 3, the Don Cossacks and Dzungars arrived to join the Russians, and they also encountered Tatars, who were plundering and capturing Russians. The Cossacks routed the enemy and not only recaptured all their plunder but also captured 50 Crimeans, 400 horses, and sabers. According to reports, they also killed 500 Crimeans. On June 11, Russians and Zaporozhian Cossacks attacked Kızı-Kermen. Turkish Galil Pasha encountered them, and after a small naval battle, the Russian-Cossack forces emerged victorious, capturing 20 turkish men and five cannons.
On July 4, the Crimeans sent 6,000 men under Azamat Giray and Shan Giray against the enemy, and on July 5, they attacked and fought at Kamenny Zaton. The Tatars lost the battle and were forced to retreat, but the situation for the Russians and Cossacks was still precarious. On July 13, Russians sent Fyodor Yurasov with several hundred soldiers on a raid against Turkish fortresses, but it was unsuccessful. His arrival and the battle itself became a powerful catalyst for further discontent within the enemy ranks. On July 17, a battle took place at Kamenny Zaton, where Turks, Tatars, and Kalmyks attacked Ivan Samoylovych. The outcome of the fierce battle remained undecided: although the Tatars retreated, they had no intention of defeating the enemy. They achieved their goals; for example, because of this battle, they prevented Russian troops from marching along the Dnieper. However, the Crimeans were unable to sway the Cossacks. His arrival and the battle itself became a powerful catalyst for further discontent within the enemy ranks. The dire situation and widespread discontent among the Russian and Cossack armies soon forced them to begin a retreat. The campaign proved fatal for Ivan Samoilovich, leading to his overthrow. Ivan Mazepa was appointed new hetman. After the unsuccessful Russian campaign, the Crimeans carried out a series of devastating raids.
In Battle of Don river (1687) Turks with Crimeans and Nogai Tatars decisively defeated Cossack Ataman Peter Kalmyk, who was wounded and captured, after executed. Cossacks also lost 400 men and 40 ships.
While the Russians and Cossacks were trying to seize Crimea, the Holy League was crushing the Turks in Hungary, this time they defeated the Turks in the Battle of Mohács (1687), for which the military leader, Sarı Süleyman Pasha, was executed.
1688 campaign
Since the Crimean campaign had failed, the Russians went on the defensive. This year, the Tatars raided mostly in small detachments. On June 7, 1,500 Cossacks fought 4,000 Crimeans at Tumin Rog. After a fierce battle, the Kharkov Cossacks emerged victorious, losing 104 wounded. After the battle, they pursued the enemy briefly. In Balakliia, a Tatar raid by 2,500 elite Crimean and Nogai Tatars captured five city guards, 22 Cossacks, and killed one. They also carried out numerous raids on other settlements, such as Savintsy. Despite this, Colonel G. Donets routed a Tatar detachment near Andreyevka and inflicted heavy losses, capturing 50 men and even the wounded Kubek-aga. On September 3, together with the Turks, the Tatars and the Janissaries carried out a raid; the pursuit failed because the enemy had fled.
The Cossacks weren't idle; in late September and early November, they raided Ochakiv. During the raid, they routed a Tatar detachment near Berezan Island. After defeating the Turks, they drove them into the city. The Turks, Wallachians, and Tatars attacked, but the Cossacks were able to defeat them. Meanwhile, Turkish ships fired on the Cossacks, inflicting minor losses. Having learned from the captives that Kalga Aga and the Crimean Khan himself were coming towards them, the Cossack commanders were forced to retreat immediately. The Khan did not manage to catch up with the Cossacks, who quickly retreated.
Russians also intended to move against Perekop by gathering an army, but the campaign never took place.
Second Crimean campaign (1689)
Russians assembled an army and marched against Crimea for the second time, beginning on April 8. On May 13, the Russians sent a small detachment to the Islam-Kermen, but he hesitated to take the fortress. Major battles with the Tatars soon followed.
On May 15, the Russians defeated the Tatars and wounded several noble murzas. That day, Kae-Abilev was killed, and Nuraddin was wounded. The Turkish historian Silahdar Findyklyli Mehmed Aga notes that the Turkish commander of Azov, Shegbaz-Gerai Sultan, came to Selim I Giray with Kalmyks, Circassians, and Yaman Saadaks. During the fighting, the Tatars fought desperately in trenches and then in the open field. On the same day, May 15, the Tatars inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, the most significant being the loss of A.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, a representative of the capital's nobility, as well as several other commanders, such as Yu. Shcherbatov, F.S. Kartsov, Pimenko Makhomov, and others. Tatars maneuvered and routed the Kazan detachment, and after a Russian counterattack, they were able to retreat. On May 16, the Russians continued their advance, but the Tatars put up fierce resistance, fighting all day. The Tatars captured a thousand Cossacks and thirty cannons, inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, and retreated. Although the Tatars lost, their battle actually benefited them. They had inflicted losses on the Russians, seized loot, and now the Russians had to find water. On May 17, heavy fighting broke out with the Tatars at Kalanchak, where the Tatars attempted to block the Russian advance. After this battle, the Russians continued to advance.
The Russians approached Perekop on May 20, but decided not to engage the Tatars. They entered into negotiations, which were unsuccessful. Thus, the Russians still had to return home in the terrible conditions into which the Crimeans had driven them. The Tatars tried to pursue the enemy, but an attack by a detachment of 200 men failed. Russian campaign ended in failure.
At this time Kosagov was sent to capture the Gorbatik fortress and arrived on May 18. Despite initial setbacks, the Turks and Tatars in the city attacked with such intensity that Kosagov, although he repelled the attack, decided to retreat after encountering fierce resistance. Both sides suffered heavy losses during the battle. Having failed to take the fortress, he also received news that the Russians were withdrawing. Moreover, the enemy also skillfully organized the pursuit, preventing the Cossacks from devastating the surrounding area.
After their victory over the Russians, the Tatars launched attacks on the Izyum Line, but not as intensely as in 1688. Several raids were repelled; for example, on June 16 at Olkhovets, the Tatars were routed during the pursuit.
At the same time, the Turks suffered further defeats against the Holy League in Hungary, like Batocina, Nis, Belgrade.They twice won poles at siege of Kamianets of 1688 and 1689.
Military actions of 1690–1694
Tatar raids
In June 1690, the Tatars attacked Izyum, devastating the city and its surroundings. In August of that year, a detachment from Azov arrived in Tor. Calling themselves Don Cossacks, they launched an attack and captured a thousand people. They were known for their exceptional cruelty. Seven men from the garrison managed to escape.In 1691, when the Tatars carried out raids, despite the fact that the detachments saw them, the Don Cossacks did not engage in battle with them, perhaps because they saw their superiority in numbers.
Throughout 1692, the Tatars launched further raids on Russian and Ukrainian lands. The only clash that year was the defense of Novobogoroditsk, during which the Russians managed to defeat the Crimeans and Petrik's Cossacks. They captured the former ataman Steblevsky, Kondrashka, Mikhailenko, Petrushkin, and others. In 1693, there were further raids by the Crimeans and Kalmyks, with only a couple of minor clashes. In 1694 the situation was similar, but clashes occurred more frequently.
Cossack raids
In 1690-1691, the Cossacks carried out several minor attacks on the Tatars. In 1692, the Cossacks launched an unsuccessful campaign against Temryuk and Kyzyltash. An attack on Azov failed. On July 5, the Cossacks managed to destroy three Turkish ships. On July 10, they attacked a Turkish vessel but failed to capture it. In the fall, the Cossacks launched another unsuccessful campaign against Azov. The Azovites inflicted damage with their raids on the enemy, but were soon defeated on October 26. In 1694, the Cossacks launched an unsuccessful campaign against Kyzyltash and Temryuk. They were pursued by the Turkish fleet, which they fought their way through and retreated. Soon, they attacked the towns again and clashed with the Tatars at the Milky Waters, where they escaped after a fierce battle.