Victory in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. provided Russia with access to the Black Sea. But under the terms of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty, the strong fortress of Izmail, located at the mouth of the Danube, remained with Turkey.

In 1787, Turkey, supported by England and France, demanded that Russia revise the treaty: the return of Crimea and the Caucasus, invalidation of subsequent agreements. Having been refused, she began military operations. Turkey planned to capture Kinburn and Kherson, land a large assault force in Crimea and destroy the Russian fleet base of Sevastopol. To launch military operations on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and Kuban, significant Turkish forces were sent to Sukhum and Anapa. To ensure its plans, Türkiye has prepared a 200,000-strong army and a strong fleet of 19 battleships, 16 frigates, 5 bombardment corvettes and large quantity ships and support vessels.

Russia deployed two armies: the Ekaterinoslav army under Field Marshal Grigory Potemkin (82 thousand people) and the Ukrainian army under Field Marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev (37 thousand people). Two strong military corps separated from the Yekaterinoslav Army were located in the Kuban and Crimea.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet was based in two points: the main forces were in Sevastopol (23 warships with 864 guns) under the command of Admiral M.I. Voinovich, the future great naval commander Fyodor Ushakov served here, and the rowing flotilla in the Dnieper-Bug estuary (20 small-tonnage ships and vessels, some not yet armed). A large European country, Austria, took the side of Russia, which sought to expand its possessions at the expense of the Balkan states, which were under Turkish rule.

The action plan of the Allies (Russia and Austria) was offensive in nature. It consisted of invading Turkey from two sides: the Austrian army was to launch an offensive from the west and capture Khotin; The Yekaterinoslav army had to launch military operations on the Black Sea coast, capture Ochakov, then cross the Dnieper, clear the area between the Dniester and the Prut from the Turks, and take Bendery. Russian fleet was supposed to pin down the enemy fleet by active actions in the Black Sea and prevent Turkey from carrying out landing operations.

Military operations developed successfully for Russia. The capture of Ochakov and the victories of Alexander Suvorov at Focsani and Rymnik created the preconditions for ending the war and signing a peace beneficial to Russia. Türkiye did not have the forces at this time to seriously resist the Allied armies. However, politicians failed to seize the opportunity. Turkey managed to gather new troops and receive help from Western countries, and the war dragged on.

In the campaign of 1790, the Russian command planned to take Turkish fortresses on the left bank of the Danube, and then transfer military operations beyond the Danube.

During this period, brilliant successes were achieved by Russian sailors under the command of Fyodor Ushakov. The Turkish fleet suffered major defeats in Kerch Strait and off the island of Tendra. The Russian fleet seized firm dominance in the Black Sea, providing conditions for active offensive operations by the Russian army and rowing flotilla on the Danube. Soon, having captured the fortresses of Kiliya, Tulcha and Isakcha, Russian troops approached Izmail.

The Izmail fortress was considered impregnable. Before the war, it was rebuilt under the leadership of French and German engineers, who significantly strengthened its fortifications. On three sides (northern, western and eastern) the fortress was surrounded by a 6 km long rampart, up to 8 meters high, with earthen and stone bastions. In front of the shaft, a ditch was dug 12 meters wide and up to 10 meters deep, which in some places was filled with water. On the southern side, Izmail was covered by the Danube. Inside the city there were many stone buildings that could be actively used for defense. The fortress garrison numbered 35 thousand people with 265 fortress guns.

In November, a Russian army of 31 thousand people (including 28.5 thousand infantry and 2.5 thousand cavalry) with 500 guns besieged Izmail from land. The river flotilla under the command of General Horace de Ribas, having destroyed almost the entire Turkish river flotilla, blocked the fortress from the Danube.

Two assaults on Izmail ended in failure and the troops moved on to a systematic siege and artillery shelling of the fortress. With the onset of autumn bad weather in the army located on open area, mass diseases began. Having lost faith in the possibility of taking Izmail by storm, the generals leading the siege decided to withdraw the troops to winter quarters.

On November 25, command of the troops near Izmail was entrusted to Suvorov. Potemkin gave him the right to act at his own discretion: “whether by continuing the enterprises in Izmail or abandoning it.” In his letter to Alexander Vasilyevich, he noted: “My hope is in God and in your courage, hurry up, my gracious friend...”.

Arriving at Izmail on December 2, Suvorov stopped the withdrawal of troops from under the fortress. Having assessed the situation, he decided to immediately prepare an assault. Having examined the enemy’s fortifications, he noted in a report to Potemkin that they “have no weak points.”

Preparations for the assault were carried out in nine days. Suvorov sought to make maximum use of the factor of surprise, for which purpose he carried out preparations for the offensive secretly. Special attention addressed the preparation of troops for assault operations. Shafts and walls similar to those of Izmail were built near the village of Broska. For six days and nights, the soldiers practiced on them how to overcome ditches, ramparts and fortress walls. Suvorov encouraged the soldiers with the words: “More sweat - less blood!” At the same time, to deceive the enemy, preparations for a long siege were simulated, batteries were laid, and fortification work was carried out.

Suvorov found the time to develop special instructions for officers and soldiers, which contained the rules of combat when storming a fortress. On the Trubaevsky Kurgan, where a small obelisk stands today, there was a commander’s tent. Here painstaking preparations for the assault were carried out, everything was thought out and provided for down to the smallest detail. “Such an assault,” Alexander Vasilyevich later admitted, “could only be dared once in a lifetime.”

Before the battle at the military council, Suvorov stated: “The Russians stood in front of Izmail twice and retreated from him twice; Now, for the third time, they have no choice but to take the fortress or die...” The Military Council unanimously came out in support of the great commander.

On December 7, Suvorov sent a letter from Potemkin to the commandant of Izmail with an ultimatum to surrender the fortress. The Turks, in case of voluntary surrender, were guaranteed life, preservation of property and the opportunity to cross the Danube, otherwise “the fate of Ochakov will follow the city.” The letter ended with the words: “The brave general Count Alexander Suvorov-Rymniksky has been appointed to carry out this.” And Suvorov attached his note to the letter: “I arrived here with the troops. 24 hours of reflection for surrender and will; My first shots are already bondage; assault - death."

The Turks refused to capitulate and responded by saying that “the Danube would sooner stop flowing and the sky would bow to the ground than Ishmael would surrender.” This answer, by order of Suvorov, was read out in each company to inspire the soldiers before the assault.

The assault was scheduled for December 11. To maintain secrecy, Suvorov did not give a written order, but limited himself to verbally setting the task to the commanders. The commander planned to conduct a simultaneous night attack with ground forces and a river flotilla from different directions. The main blow was delivered to the least protected riverside part of the fortress. The troops were divided into three detachments of three columns each. The column included up to five battalions. Six columns operated from the land and three columns from the Danube.

A detachment under the command of General P.S. Potemkin, numbering 7,500 people (it included columns of generals Lvov, Lassi and Meknob) was supposed to attack the western front of the fortress; detachment of General A.N. Samoilov numbering 12 thousand people (columns of Major General M.I. Kutuzov and Cossack brigadiers Platov and Orlov) - the north-eastern front of the fortress; a detachment of General de Ribas numbering 9 thousand people (columns of Major General Arsenyev, Brigadier Chepega and Guard Second Major Markov) was supposed to attack the riverine front of the fortress from the Danube. The general reserve of about 2,500 people was divided into four groups and positioned opposite each of the fortress gates.

Of the nine columns, six were concentrated in the main direction. The main artillery was also located here. A team of 120-150 riflemen in loose formation and 50 workers with entrenching tools were to move ahead of each column, then three battalions with fascines and ladders. The column is closed by a reserve built in a square.

In preparation for the assault, from the morning of December 10, Russian artillery from land and ships fired continuously at enemy fortifications and batteries, which continued until the start of the attack. At 5:30 a.m. on December 11, the columns moved to storm the fortress. The river flotilla, under the cover of naval artillery fire (about 500 guns), landed troops. The besieged met the attacking columns with artillery and rifle fire, and in some areas with counterattacks.

Despite heavy fire and desperate resistance, the 1st and 2nd columns immediately burst onto the rampart and captured the bastions. During the battle, General Lvov was seriously wounded and Colonel Zolotukhin took command of the 1st column. The 6th column immediately captured the rampart, but then delayed, repelling a strong counterattack by the Turks.

The 3rd column found itself in the most difficult conditions: the depth of the ditch and the height of the bastion, which it had to take, turned out to be greater than in other places. The soldiers had to link ladders under enemy fire to climb the rampart. Despite heavy losses, it completed its task.

The 4th and 5th columns, composed of dismounted Cossacks, withstood a difficult battle. They were counterattacked by the Turks emerging from the fortress, and Platov’s Cossacks also had to overcome a ditch with water. The Cossacks not only coped with the task, but also contributed to the successful attack of the 7th column, which, after landing, was divided into four parts and went on the attack under flanking fire from Turkish batteries. During the battle, Platov had to take command of the detachment, replacing the seriously wounded General Samoilov. The remaining columns that attacked the enemy from the Danube also successfully completed their tasks.

At dawn the battle was already going on inside the fortress. By 11 o'clock the gates were opened and reinforcements entered the fortress. Heavy street fighting continued until dusk. The Turks defended themselves desperately. The assault columns were forced to split up and operate in separate battalions and even companies. Their efforts were constantly increased by introducing reserves into the battle. To support the attackers, part of the artillery was brought inside the fortress.

“The Izmail fortress, so fortified, so vast and which seemed invincible to the enemy, was taken by a terrible enemy. Russian bayonets. The tenacity of the enemy, who arrogantly placed his hope in the number of troops, was dashed,” Potemkin wrote in a report to Catherine II.

During the assault, the Turks lost more than 26 thousand people, 9 thousand were captured. The Russians captured about 400 banners and horsetails, 265 guns, the remains of the river flotilla - 42 ships, large supplies of ammunition and many other trophies. Russian losses amounted to 4 thousand killed and 6 thousand wounded.

The capture of Izmail by Russian troops dramatically changed the strategic situation in the war in favor of Russia. Türkiye was forced to move on to peace negotiations.

“There has never been a stronger fortress, there has been no defense more desperate than that of Ishmael, but Ishmael has been taken,” these words from Suvorov’s report to Potemkin are carved on a monument erected in honor of the great Russian commander.

On December 24, Russia celebrates the Day of Military Glory of Russia - the Day of the Capture Turkish fortress Ishmael. The country has been celebrating this memorable date for more than twenty years. Back in 1790, Russian troops under the command of Count Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov stormed the Izmail fortress, one of the most important defensive points Ottoman Empire in the Northern Black Sea region.

The lands of the Lower Danube were conquered by the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 15th century. The Ottoman Empire, which by that time had conquered almost all the Black Sea lands, needed to create its own strongholds in the conquered lands. One of these points was the Izmail fortress, the first mention of which dates back to 1590-1592. Although in fact the fortress was probably founded a little earlier. Gradually Ishmael grew into small town, and in 1761 the department of Metropolitan Brailovsky, who ruled Orthodox churches in the Danube possessions of the Ottoman Empire.

The strategically important position of Izmail explains the increased attention to this fortress from Russian troops during almost all Russian-Turkish wars of the 18th-19th centuries. Izmail was first captured by Russian troops under the command of Lieutenant General Nikolai Repnin on August 5 (July 26, old style) 1770. But after the end of the war, according to the terms of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty, the Izmail fortress was again returned to the jurisdiction of the Ottoman Empire.

The peace between the Russian and Ottoman empires, however, did not last long. Thirteen years after the end of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. started new war. The Ottoman Empire was extremely dissatisfied with the terms of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty, according to which the most important vassal of the Porte, the Crimean Khanate, received political independence and, therefore, could fall under the influence of Russia. The Ottoman authorities were very afraid of this, so they took revenge, trying to once again ensure their dominance in the Black Sea region. The situation was aggravated by the fact that Georgia accepted the protectorate of the Russian Empire. Having secured the support of Great Britain and France, the Ottoman Empire in 1787 issued an ultimatum to Russia - to restore the vassalage of the Crimean Khanate in relation to the Porte and abandon the protectorate of Georgia, and also agree to inspections Russian ships, passing through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. Naturally, Russia could not satisfy the demands of the Ottoman Empire.

On August 13 (24), 1787, another Russian-Turkish war began. Like previous wars with the Ottoman Empire, it had both a sea and land character. To attack Turkish positions in the spring of 1788, two powerful armies were created. The first, Ekaterinoslav, numbered about 80 thousand soldiers and officers under the command of Grigory Potemkin. She was entrusted with the task of mastering Ochakov. The second, Ukrainian, numbering 37 thousand soldiers and officers under the command of Rumyantsev, aimed at Bendery. The eastern flanks had to be defended by the troops of General Tekeli, numbering 18 thousand soldiers and officers, who took up positions in the Kuban. However, despite the numerous forces involved in the fighting, the war became protracted. Since quite a lot has been written about the course of hostilities, let’s move on directly to the assault on Izmail.

Field Marshal General Grigory Potemkin, who commanded the Russian army, entrusted the capture of this strategically important fortress to General-in-Chief Alexander Suvorov, one of the most talented Russian commanders. On December 2, 1790, Chief General Suvorov arrived at the location of units of the Southern Army, which by this time had approached Izmail, and immediately began preparing to storm the fortress. As you know, Alexander Suvorov paid great attention to the combat training of troops. He applied his approach in this case, knowing full well that it was better to spend time well preparing troops for the upcoming assault on the fortress than to then suffer heavy losses during the assault due to the lack of training of the soldiers and the lack of coherence in the actions of the units.

In the vicinity of Izmail, Suvorov ordered the construction of earthen and wooden copies of the moat, rampart and walls of the Turkish fortress. After this, Suvorov began training troops. The soldiers were taught to throw a ditch, set up ladders as quickly as possible and climb them to the fortress walls with lightning speed. The General-in-Chief personally inspected the exercises, observing the level of training of soldiers and officers. Suvorov spent six days preparing for the assault on Izmail. During this time, he not only trained the troops, but also personally rode along the fortress walls of Izmail, making sure, to his chagrin, that the system defensive structures the fortress has practically no flaws.

On December 7 (18), 1790, Chief General Suvorov sent an ultimatum to the commandant of the Izmail fortress, in which he demanded to surrender the fortress within 24 hours after the ultimatum was presented. Turkish Pasha he rejected the ultimatum with indignation. After this, Suvorov began preparations for a direct assault. The military council assembled by Suvorov set the date of the assault for December 11.

To carry out the assault, Suvorov divided his troops into three detachments, each of which, in turn, included three columns. The eastern part of the fortress was to be stormed by a 12,000-strong detachment of Lieutenant General A.N. Samoilov, the western part - to the 7.5 thousand-strong detachment of Lieutenant General P.S. Potemkin, and the river side was to be taken over by a detachment of Major General I. de Ribas numbering 9 thousand people. In total, more than 31 thousand people were supposed to take part in the assault on Izmail on the Russian side, including about 15 thousand irregular troops. Understanding perfectly well that it is better to strike the first blow in the dark, but carry out the main assault already during daylight hours, Suvorov decided to begin the assault at about 5 o’clock in the morning.

Artillery preparation for the assault began on December 10 (21), 1790. From early morning, the flank batteries of the Russian army and the naval batteries of the flotilla began shelling Izmail. It lasted a day and stopped 2.5 hours before Russian troops stormed the fortress. On the night of December 11 (22), 1790, Russian troops left the camp and moved towards Izmail. The first to attack was the 2nd column, commanded by Major General Boris Lassi. His units managed to force the rampart. The actions of the 1st column, commanded by Major General S.L., were also successful. Lviv. His subordinates - grenadiers and riflemen - were able to capture the first Turkish batteries and take control of the Khotyn Gate. It was a real success.

Lvov soldiers opened the Khotyn gates, after which Russian cavalry rushed into them. In turn, the column of Major General M.I. Kutuzova-Golenischeva captured the bastion in the area of ​​the Kiliya Gate, after which she established control over a large section of the fortress rampart. It was more difficult for the soldiers and officers from the 3rd column, commanded by Major General Fyodor Meknob. His fighters stormed the northern bastion of the fortress, but the depth of the ditch and the height of the rampart in this area were very large. The length of the stairs was not enough to overcome the bastion. We had to tie the ladders together in twos. However, this difficult task was ultimately completed. Russian troops took the northern bastion of Izmail.

At about 7 o'clock in the morning, the landing of the river detachment began, commanded by Major General Deribas. Although the Russian paratroopers were opposed by more than 10 thousand Ottoman warriors, the landing was also successful. The landing was covered by the column of General Lvov, which struck on the flank, as well as by the troops operating on the eastern approaches to the fortress. The Kherson rangers, commanded by Colonel Valerian Zubov, the brother of Catherine II’s favorite Platon Zubov, performed excellently during the assault. The actions of other units were no less successful, in particular, the battalion of Livland rangers, commanded by Colonel Roger Damas, was able to capture the battery that controlled the coastline.

However, having broken into Izmail, Russian troops encountered serious resistance from the Turkish-Tatar garrison. The Ottomans were not going to give up without a fight. Defending Turkish and Tatar askers settled in almost every house. In the center of Izmail, a detachment of Crimean Tatar cavalry, commanded by Maksud Giray, entered into battle with the detachment of Major General Lassi. The fight between Russian soldiers and Tatars was fierce; from the Tatar detachment, numbering about 1 thousand people, only 300 askers remained alive. In the end, Maksud Giray was forced to surrender along with the remnants of his unit.

Realizing that street fighting could lead to large human losses, Chief General Suvorov decided to use light artillery to neutralize the defenders of Izmail. 20 lungs were introduced into the fortress territory artillery pieces, who opened fire with grapeshot at the Turkish and Tatar warriors still fighting in the streets of Izmail. Separate groups of Turks, however, even after artillery shelling, tried to hold individual, strongest buildings of Izmail. Only by 2 p.m. were Russian troops able to finally establish control over the city center, and two hours later the resistance of the last defenders of Izmail was eliminated. The rare surviving Turkish and Crimean Tatar warriors surrendered.

The counting of losses demonstrated the full scale of the event, which became known as the assault on Ishmael. As a result of the siege of the fortress and battles, more than 26 thousand Turkish-Tatar soldiers were killed. More than 9 thousand Turks were captured, of which about 2 thousand died from their wounds the very next day, as it was rendered medical care it was not possible for such a large number of people. There were so many corpses of dead Turkish and Tatar soldiers that the Russian command could not even ensure their burial. It was ordered to throw the enemy’s corpses into the Danube, but this measure also made it possible to clear the territory of Ishmael from corpses only on the sixth day.

The trophies of the Russian army were 265 Turkish artillery pieces, a huge amount of ammunition, auxiliary ships - 12 ferries and 22 light ships. Russian troops lost a disproportionately smaller number of soldiers and officers than the defenders of the fortress. 64 officers and 1,816 lower ranks were killed, 253 officers and 2,450 lower ranks were injured. The Russian fleet, which also took part in the assault on Izmail, lost another 95 people killed and 278 people wounded.

The victory in Izmail became a grand success for the Russians. Empress Catherine II generously rewarded Field Marshal General Grigory Potemkin, who received a field marshal's uniform, embroidered with diamonds and valued at 200 thousand rubles, and the Tauride Palace. The merits of Chief General Alexander Suvorov were appreciated, however, much less. He received a medal and the rank of lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky regiment (remember that the ranks of lieutenant colonels and colonels of guards regiments were equal to the highest army general ranks), although by that time there were already ten lieutenant colonels in the Preobrazhensky regiment. The assault on Ishmael has become firmly entrenched in Russian military and army folklore; many songs and legends have been written about it. He further strengthened the authority of Chief General Suvorov in the troops, becoming another evidence of the military genius of the Russian general.

If speak about political consequences the capture of Ishmael, they were also impressive. When in 1791-1792. The Treaty of Jassy was concluded between the Russian and Ottoman empires, and the Crimean Khanate was finally transferred to the Russian Empire. The border with the Ottoman Empire was established along the Dniester River. Thus, the composition Russian state included the entire Northern Black Sea region - the territories of the modern south of Ukraine, Crimea and Kuban. Of course, the Ottoman Empire did not intend to abandon its revanchist plans, but its positions were dealt a serious blow. However, Ishmael himself, for whom the blood of Russian soldiers was shed, was returned to the Ottoman Empire under the Treaty of Yassy. Izmail became part of the Russian state only in 1878, almost a century after its grandiose assault. Then, in 1918-1940, Izmail, like all of Bessarabia, was part of Romania, and then - until 1991 - part of the Ukrainian SSR.

The Day of Military Glory in memory of the storming of Izmail is for everyone great importance. This is another reason to remember our ancestors, the brave Russian warriors who shed their blood for their homeland in all the numerous wars and battles.

Russian troops under the command of Count Alexander Suvorov occurred on December 22 (December 11, old style) 1790. The Day of Military Glory is celebrated on December 24, since in the existing version of the federal law “On Days of Military Glory and Memorable Dates of Russia,” the dates of historical events that occurred before the introduction of the Gregorian calendar are obtained by simply adding 13 days to the dates according to the Julian calendar. However, the difference of 13 days between the Gregorian and Julian calendars accumulated only in the 20th century. In the 18th century, the difference between Julian and Gregorian calendars was 11 days.

The assault and capture of the Turkish fortress Izmail is a key battle Russian-Turkish War 1787-1791.

Unable to accept defeat in the war of 1768-1774, Turkey in 1787 demanded that Russia return Crimea and renounce the patronage of Georgia, and in August declared war on Russia.

In turn, Russia decided to take advantage of the situation and expand its possessions in the Northern Black Sea region.

Military operations developed successfully for Russia. The Turkish troops suffered sensitive defeats, losing Ochakov and Khotyn, and were defeated at Focsani and on the Rymnik River. The Turkish fleet suffered major defeats in the Kerch Strait and off Tendra Island. The Russian fleet seized firm dominance in the Black Sea, providing conditions for active offensive operations by the Russian army and rowing flotilla on the Danube. Soon, having captured the fortresses of Kiliya, Tulcha and Isakcha, Russian troops approached the Turkish fortress of Izmail on the Danube, which covered the strategic Balkan direction.

On the eve of the war, the fortress was heavily fortified with the help of French and German engineers. From the west, north and east it was surrounded by a high rampart six kilometers long, up to eight meters high with earthen and stone bastions. In front of the shaft, a ditch was dug 12 meters wide and up to 10 meters deep, which in some places was filled with water. On the southern side, Izmail was covered by the Danube. Inside the city there were many stone buildings that could be actively used for defense. The fortress garrison numbered 35 thousand people with 265 fortress guns.

In November, a Russian army of 31 thousand people (including 28.5 thousand infantry and 2.5 thousand cavalry) with 500 guns besieged Izmail from land. The river flotilla under the command of General Osip de Ribas, having destroyed almost the entire Turkish river flotilla, blocked the fortress from the Danube.

The commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Field Marshal General Prince Grigory Potemkin, sent General-in-Chief (at that time) Alexander Suvorov to lead the siege, who arrived to Izmail on December 13 (December 2, old style).

To begin with, Suvorov decided to make thorough preparations for the capture of the impregnable stronghold. Shafts and walls similar to those of Izmail were built near the nearby villages. For six days and nights, the soldiers practiced on them how to overcome ditches, ramparts and fortress walls. At the same time, to deceive the enemy, preparations for a long siege were simulated, batteries were laid, and fortification work was carried out.

On December 18 (December 7, old style), Suvorov sent an ultimatum to the commander of the Turkish troops, Aidozli Mehmet Pasha, demanding the surrender of the fortress; the commander attached a note to the official letter: “To Seraskir, the elders and the entire society: I arrived here with the troops. Twenty-four hours to think about surrender and freedom, my first shots are already bondage, the assault is death. Which I leave for you to consider.”

The negative response of the Turks, according to a number, was accompanied by assurances that “it would be more likely for the Danube to stop in its flow and the sky to collapse to the ground than for Ishmael to surrender.”

Suvorov decided on an immediate assault. During December 20 and 21 (December 9 and 10, old style), the fortress was subjected to fierce bombardment from 600 guns.

The assault, which has become a classic of military art, began at half past six in the morning on December 22 (December 11, old style).

Suvorov planned to knock the enemy off the rampart in the dark, and then make the most of the daylight hours so as not to interrupt the battle for the night. He divided his forces into three detachments of three assault columns each. The detachment of Lieutenant General Pavel Potemkin (7,500 people) attacked from the west, the detachment of Lieutenant General Alexander Samoilov (12,000 people) - from the east, the detachment of Major General Osip de Ribas (9,000 people) - from the south across the Danube. The cavalry reserve (2,500 people) of Brigadier Feodor Westphalen in four groups took up positions opposite each of the fortress gates.

In the west, the columns of generals Boris de Lassi and Sergei Lvov immediately crossed the rampart, opening the gates for the cavalry. To the left, the soldiers of General Fyodor Meknob's column had to link pairs of assault ladders under fire in order to overcome higher fortifications. On the eastern side, the dismounted Cossacks of Colonel Vasily Orlov and Brigadier Matvey Platov withstood a strong counterattack by the Turks, from whom the column of General Mikhail Kutuzov, who occupied the bastion at the eastern gate, also suffered. In the south, the columns of General Nikolai Arsenyev and Brigadier Zakhar Chepegi, who began the assault a little later, closed the ring under the cover of the river flotilla.

By daylight the battle was already going on inside the fortress. Around noon, de Lassy's column was the first to reach its center. To support the infantry, field guns were used, clearing the streets of the Turks with grapeshot. By one o'clock in the afternoon the victory was actually won, but in some places the fighting continued. In a desperate attempt to recapture the fortress, the brother of the Crimean Khan, Kaplan-girey, died. Aydozli Mehmet Pasha with a thousand Janissaries held the stone inn for two hours, until almost all of his people (and himself) were killed by the grenadiers. By 16:00 the resistance had completely ceased.

The Turkish garrison lost 26 thousand people killed, nine thousand were captured, but within 24 hours up to two thousand of them died from their wounds. The winners received about 400 banners and horsetails, 265 guns, the remains of the river flotilla - 42 ships, and a lot of rich booty.

The losses of Russian troops in killed and wounded were initially estimated at four and a half thousand people. According to other sources, four thousand were killed alone, and another six thousand were injured.

The Russian victory was of great importance for the further course of the war, which in 1792 ended with the Treaty of Iasi, which assigned Crimea and the northern Black Sea region from the Kuban to the Dniester to Russia.

The anthem “The Thunder of Victory, Ring Out!” is dedicated to the capture of Ishmael. (music by Osip Kozlovsky, lyrics by Gavriil Derzhavin), considered the unofficial anthem of the Russian Empire.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

The Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774 ended in Russian victory. The country finally secured access to the Black Sea. But according to the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty, the powerful fortress of Izmail, located at the mouth of the Danube, still remained Turkish.

Political situation

In mid-summer 1787, Türkiye, with the support of France, Great Britain and Prussia, demanded Russian Empire the return of Crimea and the refusal of the Georgian authorities to provide their protection. In addition, they wanted to obtain consent to inspect all Russian merchant ships traveling through the straits of the Black Sea. Without waiting for a positive response to its claims, the Turkish government declared war on Russia. This happened on August 12, 1787.

The challenge was accepted. The Russian Empire, in turn, hastened to take advantage of the current situation and increase its possessions at the expense of lands in the Northern Black Sea region.

Initially, Turkey planned to capture Kherson and Kinburn, land a large number of its troops on the Crimean Peninsula, and also destroy the base of the Russian Black Sea squadron in Sevastopol.

Balance of power

In order to launch full-scale military operations on the Black Sea coast of the Kuban and Caucasus, Turkey turned its main forces in the direction of Anapa and Sukhum. It had an army of 200,000 and a fairly strong fleet, consisting of 16 frigates, 19 battleships, 5 bombardment corvettes, as well as many other ships and support ships.

In response, the Russian Empire began deploying its two armies. The first of them is Ekaterinoslavskaya. It was commanded by Field Marshal General Grigory Potemkin. It numbered 82 thousand people. The second was the Ukrainian 37,000-strong army under the command of Field Marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev. In addition, two powerful military corps were stationed in Crimea and Kuban.

As for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, it was based in two places. The main forces, consisting of 23 warships, carrying 864 guns, were stationed in Sevastopol, and were commanded by Admiral M. I. Voinovich. An interesting fact is that at the same time, the future great admiral F. F. Ushakov served here. The second place of deployment was the Dnieper-Bug estuary. A rowing flotilla was stationed there, consisting of 20 small vessels and ships that were only partially armed.

Allied plan

It must be said that the Russian Empire was not left alone in this war. On her side was one of the largest and strongest at that time European countries- Austria. She, like Russia, sought to expand her borders at the expense of other Balkan countries that found themselves under the yoke of Turkey.

The plan of the new allies, Austria and the Russian Empire, was exclusively offensive in nature. The idea was to attack Turkey from two sides simultaneously. The Yekaterinoslav army was supposed to begin military operations on Black Sea coast, capture Ochakov, then cross the Dnieper and destroy Turkish troops in the area between the Prut and Dniester rivers, and for this it was necessary to take Bendery. At the same time, the Russian flotilla, through its active actions, pinned down enemy ships on the Black Sea and did not allow the Turks to land on the Crimean coast. The Austrian army, in turn, promised to attack from the west and storm Hatin.

Developments

The start of hostilities for Russia was very successful. The capture of the Ochakov fortress, two victories of A. Suvorov at Rymnik and Forshany indicated that the war should end very soon. This meant that the Russian Empire would sign a peace beneficial to itself. Turkey at that time did not have such forces that could seriously repel the Allied armies. But for some reason politicians missed this favorable moment and did not take advantage of it. As a result, the war dragged on, since the Turkish authorities were still able to gather a new army, as well as receive help from the West.

During the military campaign of 1790, the Russian command planned to capture Turkish fortresses located on the left bank of the Danube, and after that move their troops further.

This year, Russian sailors under the command of F. Ushakov won one brilliant victory after another. At the island of Tendra and the Turkish fleet suffered a crushing defeat. As a result, the Russian flotilla firmly established itself in the Black Sea and provided favorable conditions for the further offensive of its armies on the Danube. The fortresses of Tulcha, Kilia and Isakcha had already been taken when Potemkin’s troops approached Izmail. Here they met desperate resistance from the Turks.

Impregnable citadel

The capture of Ishmael was considered impossible. Just before the war, the fortress was thoroughly rebuilt and strengthened. It was surrounded by a high rampart and a fairly wide ditch filled with water. The fortress had 11 bastions, where 260 guns were placed. The work was led by German and French engineers.

Also, the capture of Izmail was considered unrealistic, because it was located on the left bank of the Danube between two lakes - Katlabukh and Yalpukh. It rose on the slope of a sloping mountain, which ended in a low but steep slope near the riverbed. This fortress was of great strategic importance, as it was located at the intersection of routes from Khotin, Kiliya, Galati and Bendery.

The garrison of the citadel consisted of 35 thousand soldiers, commanded by Aidozle Mehmet Pasha. Some of them reported directly to Kaplan Geray, the brother of the Crimean Khan. He was assisted by his five sons. The new decree of Sultan Selim III stated that if the capture of the Izmail fortress takes place, then every soldier from the garrison, wherever he may be, will be executed.

Appointment of Suvorov

The Russian troops camped under the citadel had a hard time. It was raw and cold weather. The soldiers warmed themselves by burning reeds in fires. There was a catastrophic shortage of food. In addition, the troops were in constant combat readiness, fearing enemy attacks.

Winter was just around the corner, so Russian military leaders Ivan Gudovich, Joseph de Ribas and Potemkin's brother Pavel gathered for a military council on December 7. On it they decided to lift the siege and postpone the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail.

But Grigory Potemkin did not agree with this conclusion and canceled the resolution of the military council. Instead, he signed an order that General-in-Chief A.V. Suvorov, who was standing with his troops at Galati, should take command of the army that was currently besieging the impregnable citadel.

Preparing for the assault

The capture of the Izmail fortress by Russian troops required the most careful organization. Therefore, Suvorov sent his best Phanagorian Grenadier Regiment, 1 thousand Arnauts, 200 Cossacks and 150 hunters who served in the Absheron Musketeer Regiment to the walls of the bastion. He did not forget about the sutlers with food supplies. In addition, Suvorov ordered 30 ladders and 1 thousand fascines to be put together and sent to Izmail, and also gave the rest of the necessary orders. He transferred command of the remaining troops stationed near Galati to lieutenant generals Derfelden and Prince Golitsin. The commander himself left the camp with a small convoy consisting of only 40 Cossacks. On the way to the fortress, Suvorov met the retreating Russian troops and turned them back, as he planned to use all his forces at the moment when the capture of Izmail began.

Upon arrival at the camp located near the fortress, he first blocked the impregnable citadel from the Danube River and from land. Then Suvorov ordered the artillery to be positioned as it was done during a long siege. Thus, he managed to convince the Turks that the capture of Izmail by Russian troops was not planned in the near future.

Suvorov conducted a detailed acquaintance with the fortress. He and the officers accompanying him approached Ishmael within rifle range. Here he indicated the places where the columns would go, where exactly the assault would take place and how the troops should help each other. For six days Suvorov prepared to capture the Turkish fortress of Izmail.

The General-in-Chief personally toured all the regiments and talked with the soldiers about previous victories, while not hiding the difficulties that awaited them during the assault. This is how Suvorov prepared his troops for the day when the capture of Izmail would finally begin.

Land Assault

At 3 a.m. on December 22, the first flare lit up in the sky. This was a conventional sign according to which the troops left their camp, formed columns and headed to their pre-designated locations. And by half past six in the morning they moved to capture the Izmail fortress.

The column led by Major General P.P. Lassi was the first to approach the walls of the citadel. Half an hour after the start of the assault, under a hurricane of enemy bullets raining down on their heads, the rangers overcame the rampart, at the top of which a fierce battle ensued. And at this time, the Phanagorian grenadiers and Absheron riflemen under the command of Major General S. L. Lvov managed to capture the first enemy batteries and the Khotyn Gate. They also managed to connect with the second column. They opened the Khotyn gates for the entry of cavalry. This was the first major victory of the Russian troops since the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail by Suvorov began. Meanwhile, in other areas the assault continued with increasing force.

At the same time, on the opposite side of the citadel, the column of Major General M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov captured the bastion located on the side of the Kiliya Gate and the adjacent rampart. On the day of the capture of the Izmail fortress, perhaps the most difficult task to achieve was the goal set for the commander of the third column, Major General F.I. Meknoba. She was supposed to storm the northern great bastion. The fact is that in this area the height of the rampart and the depth of the ditch were too great, so the stairs, about 12 m high, turned out to be short. Under heavy fire, the soldiers had to tie them up two by two. As a result, the northern bastion was taken. The rest of the ground columns also coped well with their tasks.

Water assault

The capture of Izmail by Suvorov was thought out to the smallest detail. Therefore, it was decided to storm the fortress not only from the land side. Seeing the prearranged signal, the landing troops, led by Major General de Ribas, covered by the rowing fleet, moved towards the fortress and lined up in two lines. At 7 o'clock in the morning their landing on the shore began. This process took place very smoothly and quickly, despite the fact that they were resisted by more than 10 thousand Turkish and Tatar soldiers. This success of the landing was greatly facilitated by Lvov’s column, which at that time was attacking enemy coastal batteries from the flank. Also, significant forces of the Turks drew upon themselves and ground troops, operating from the eastern side.

The column under the command of Major General N.D. Arsenyev sailed to the shore on 20 ships. As soon as the troops landed on the shore, they immediately divided into several groups. The Livonian rangers were commanded by Count Roger Damas. They captured a battery that lined the shore. The Kherson grenadiers, led by Colonel V.A. Zubov, managed to take a rather tough cavalier. On this day of the capture of Izmail, the battalion lost two-thirds of its strength. The remaining military units also suffered losses, but successfully captured their sections of the fortress.

Final stage

When dawn came, it turned out that the rampart had already been captured, and the enemy had been driven out from the fortress walls and was retreating deeper into the city. Columns of Russian troops who were with different sides, moved towards the city center. New battles broke out.

The Turks offered especially strong resistance until 11 o'clock. The city was burning here and there. Thousands of horses, jumping out of burning stables in panic, rushed through the streets, sweeping away everyone in their path. Russian troops had to fight for almost every house. Lassi and his squad were the first to reach the city center. Here Maksud Geray was waiting for him with the remnants of his troops. The Turkish commander stubbornly defended himself, and only when almost all his soldiers were killed did he surrender.

The capture of Izmail by Suvorov was coming to an end. To support the infantry with fire, he ordered light guns firing grapeshot to be delivered to the city. Their volleys helped clear the streets of the enemy. At one o'clock in the afternoon it became clear that victory had actually already been won. But the fighting still continued. Kaplan Geray somehow managed to gather several thousand foot and horse Turks and Tatars, whom he led against the advancing Russian troops, but was defeated and killed. His five sons also died. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the capture of the Izmail fortress by Suvorov was completed. The citadel, previously considered impregnable, fell.

Results

The capture of Izmail by the troops of the Russian Empire radically affected the entire strategic situation. The Turkish government was forced to agree to peace negotiations. A year later, both parties signed an agreement under which the Turks recognized Russia’s rights to Georgia, Crimea and Kuban. In addition, Russian merchants were promised benefits and all kinds of assistance from the vanquished.

On the day of the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail, the Russian side lost 2,136 people killed. Their number included: soldiers - 1816, Cossacks - 158, officers - 66 and 1 brigadier. There were slightly more wounded - 3214 people, including 3 generals and 253 officers.

The losses on the part of the Turks seemed simply enormous. More than 26 thousand people were killed alone. About 9 thousand were captured, but the next day 2 thousand died from their wounds. It is believed that out of the entire Izmail garrison, only one person managed to escape. He was slightly wounded and, having fallen into the water, managed to swim across the Danube riding on a log.

At sunrise on December 10, artillery preparation began, which continued all day, especially intensifying from 12 o'clock at night. The Russians fired 607 guns (40 field guns and 567 naval guns). The Turks responded with fire from 300 guns. Gradually the firing from the fortress began to weaken and finally stopped. The fire from Russian guns caused losses to the fortress garrison and suppressed Turkish artillery.

At 3 a.m. on December 11, 1790, the first signal racket went up in the darkness of the night. At this signal, Russian troops moved from their starting position to the places designated by order of Suvorov. The rifle and work teams approached the ditch. At 4 o'clock the second rocket took off, which meant that it was time to form columns and teams in the battle formation established for the assault and begin moving towards the walls of the fortress. At 5 o'clock. 30 min. In the morning, the third rocket rose, with the appearance of which the Russian troops moved to attack the fortress.

In darkness and fog, Russian assault columns quickly approached the walls of Izmail. At this time, Russian artillery began firing at the fortress with blank shells, which masked the approach of the assault columns.

The Turks did not fire until the Russians had approached within 400 steps. When the first ranks of Russian fighters reached this distance, Turkish artillery fired grapeshot at the approaching columns. Despite the fire, Russian soldiers, running up to the ditch, skillfully threw fascines at it or bravely forded it, although the water reached their shoulders. In front of the columns were riflemen and sappers with axes and shovels, and reserves moved behind.

Russian soldiers attached ladders that were up to 10 meters long to the walls of the fortress. However, in some places the walls were even higher. We had to connect two 10-meter ladders. Often the shaky ladders fell, but the Russian soldiers climbed up, helping each other. The soldiers climbed along sheer walls and a steep rampart, sticking bayonets and blades into it. Those who climbed the walls of the fortress lowered ropes from them and fought hand-to-hand combat with the Turks, who shot point-blank, pushed away ladders, and threw hand bombs.

The best Russian shooters at that time stood on the edge of the ditch and, seizing the moment of the flash of gun shots, accurately shot at the Turks who were on the walls of the fortress.

Already at 6 o'clock. on the morning of December 11, the fighters of the second column of Major General Lassi, in front of which Major L. Ya. Neklyudov walked with arrows, climbed the rampart and captured the lunette to the left of the Tabiya redoubt.

Leading his riflemen to the assault, Second Major L. Ya. Neklyudov showed an example of courage by personal example. Ahead of the fighters, L. Ya. Neklyudov was the first to cross the ditch and the first to climb the ramparts. Throwing himself at the Turks standing on the wall, L. Ya. Neklyudov began the battle on the fortifications of Izmail and was seriously wounded. The soldiers saved L. Ya. Neklyudov, one of the bravest participants in the assault on Izmail, who was the first to enter the fortress wall.

When these events developed to the left of the Tabia redoubt, the first column of Major General Lvov, due to the impossibility of a frontal attack, bypassed the Tabia stone redoubt with right side, but due to the brutal fire of the Turkish batteries she could not take it. The Turks, meanwhile, launched a strong counterattack on the second column, during which Major General Lassi was wounded. Suvorov’s favorites, the Phanagorian grenadiers under the command of Colonel Zolotukhin, fought especially successfully in this sector; The grenadiers managed to break open the Brossky and Khotinsky gates, let the reserve inside the fortress and connect with the Lassi column. Replacing the wounded Lassi, Colonel Zolotukhin took command of the second column. Meanwhile, Lvov's first column, continuing to attack aggressively, captured several Turkish batteries and broke into the fortress, where it united with the second column.

The column of Major General Meknob found itself in a difficult situation, which, instead of the curtain at the Khotyn Gate indicated to it by order of Suvorov, attacked the large bastion in the northwestern corner of the fortress, as well as the adjacent bastion and the curtain between them. Here the fortress rampart had the smallest height, and therefore this area was defended by the commandant of the fortress Aidozli-Mehmet Pasha himself with selected Janissaries. At the very beginning of the assault, Major General Meknob was wounded. He was replaced by Colonel Khvostov, who stood at the head of the soldiers going on the attack; Breaking the fierce resistance of the Turks, Russian soldiers overcame the rampart and pushed the Turks into the depths of the fortress.

From the north-eastern side, the Cossack column of Brigadier Orlov acted, which began to climb the rampart, but at that time the Turks made a sortie from the Bendery Gate with significant forces. A.V. Suvorov vigilantly watched the assault. Seeing that the enemy had struck Orlov’s Cossacks on the flank, he sent reinforcements to their aid - an infantry battalion, seven cavalry squadrons and a Cossack regiment. The Turkish counterattack was repulsed, but Orlov’s column was still unable to capture the rampart.

The column of Brigadier Platov, advancing along the ravine, encountered an obstacle - a curtain, which, crossing a stream flowing through the ravine, formed a dam with a depth above the waist. The Cossacks forded the dam. The Turks counterattacked Platov's column, cut it in two and threw it into the ditch. But thanks to the infantry battalion sent by Suvorov to help, Platov soon took possession of the curtain. Following this, part of Platov’s troops moved to support Orlov’s column, and the other part entered into cooperation with Arsenyev’s landing brigade advancing from the south.

From the eastern side, Russian troops stormed the most powerful fortification of Izmail - the New Fortress. Here the Turks met the sixth column going to attack with a hail of bullets and grapeshot. It was commanded by Major General M. I. Kutuzov. The soldiers of the column, led by Kutuzov, managed to climb the wall of the New Fortress. However, the Turks did not allow the initial success to develop. Attacking from all sides, not allowing the Russian soldiers to spread along the wall and penetrate deep into the eastern bastion, they immediately counterattacked with a 10,000-strong detachment. The Turks suppressed the Cossacks from Kutuzov's column with their numerical superiority and pushed them into a ditch filled with water. To help the Cossacks, who were armed only with short wooden faces that could not withstand the blows of Turkish scimitars, Kutuzov sent a battalion of Bug rangers. Having arrived in time to help, the rangers held back the Turkish hordes with a powerful bayonet strike, and then began to push back. Kutuzov himself, with a saber in his hands, fought in the first row of the attackers. Under the blows of Russian soldiers, the Turks retreated.

Developing this success, Kutuzov took from the reserve another battalion of Bug rangers, which continued to push back the Turks and expanded the captured sections of the fortress wall. The Turks fought like suicide bombers - they remembered the Sultan’s order to put to death every surviving warrior in the event of the surrender of the fortress. In the darkness, a bloody hand-to-hand battle took place on the rampart, near the bridge and near the ditch. New reinforcements were constantly arriving to the Turks. Concentrating fresh forces in numbers that far exceeded Kutuzov’s detachment, the Turks repeated a powerful counterattack.

Twice Kutuzov climbed the rampart, dragging the troops with him to the assault, and twice the enemy threw them back. Suffering heavy losses, Kutuzov asked Suvorov for support, but received the answer that a report about the capture of Izmail had already been sent to Russia, and he appointed Kutuzov himself as commandant of the fortress. Then Kutuzov gathered the Bug rangers, took his last reserve (two battalions of the Kherson Grenadier Regiment) and led the troops on an attack for the third time. Unfurling the regimental banner, riddled with bullets and buckshot, Kutuzov ran forward and was the first to rush towards the Turks, raising the heavy staff high with both hands. Seeing their commander and the battle flag flying above him, the Bug rangers, grenadiers and Cossacks loudly shouted “Hurray!” followed Kutuzov. Once again, the sixth column with a bayonet attack scattered the advancing Turks, threw them into the ditch, then captured two bastions and the Kiliya Gate, connecting through the middle rampart with Platov’s column and ensuring a brilliant victory for the left wing of the Russian troops.

The column of M.I. Kutuzov with bayonets paved its way to the center of the fortress to connect with the rest of the assault columns.

Already 45 minutes after the start of the assault, the fortress fence of Izmail was captured by Russian troops.

Dawn was beginning. The screams of the combatants, the cries of “Hurray!” and “Alla!” were heard around all the steppes of Izmail. The Turks fought with desperate courage. A large detachment of Turkish cavalry made a dashing sortie through the Bendery Gate, but was taken on pikes and checkers by Russian mounted Cossacks and destroyed. Two squadrons of Voronezh hussars then rushed through the open Bendery gates, broke into the fortress, where they successfully attacked the Turkish cavalry and assisted the rangers of the Bug corps in capturing the gates.

Simultaneously with the attack by ground forces, Izmail was attacked by landing units from the Danube. Russian ships with a landing force of marines and Black Sea Cossacks in 130 boats moved towards the fortress in the first line. In the second line, supporting the landing with artillery fire, sailed brigantines, lances, double boats and floating batteries. The Russian fleet advanced so quickly and skillfully that the Turks were forced to abandon their surviving ships and retreat behind the walls of the fortress. The fire of 99 heavy cannons, mortars, and howitzers met the attacking Russian ships. Despite the brutal grapeshot fire, the Russian landing at 7 o'clock. In the morning he landed on the shore near the fortress wall. Up to 10 thousand Turks defended the riverside side of Izmail. At the same time, on the western side of Izmail, the detachments of General Lvov and Colonel Zolotukhin, who had managed to unite, made their way along the rampart through crowds of desperately fighting Turks towards the detachment of Colonel Khvostov. Through the joint efforts of all three columns, the entire western rampart was completely cleared of the Turkish garrison. Kutuzov's attack from the eastern side, which helped the detachments of Orlov and Platov, advancing from the northeast, finally predetermined the capture of Izmail, for the fallen New Fortress was the most impregnable section of the Turkish defense.

At 8 o'clock. In the morning, Russian troops and sailors captured all the fortress walls and the main rampart of the Turkish defense. The attack was over. The assault columns that attacked Izmail united, closing the front of the encirclement. The Turks retreated to the city, preparing to defend the numerous stone buildings adapted for defense.

The complete unification of all Russian columns occurred at about 10 o'clock. morning.

A.V. Suvorov announced a short rest in order to put the troops participating in the night assault in order. He ordered the attack of the city to begin from all sides simultaneously with all forces. Russian artillery prepared to assist the attack. The reserves moved closer so that, joining the advancing troops, they could strengthen the blow in the depths of the fortified city.

After some time, to the music of orchestras, in orderly rows from different sides, Suvorov’s miracle heroes rushed into a Russian bayonet attack, terrible for the enemy. A bloody battle ensued. Until 11 o'clock in the afternoon, a fierce battle continued on the outskirts of the city. The Turks did not give up and did not retreat. Each house had to be taken in battle. But the ring of attacking troops was closing ever closer.

The battle broke up into many small hand-to-hand fights that took place in the streets, squares, alleys, courtyards and gardens, inside various buildings.

The Turks settled in stone buildings of palaces, mosques, hotels and houses. The stone cavalier (casemate battery), behind the thick walls of which selected Janissaries defended, had not yet been taken.

By order of A.V. Suvorov, 20 light guns were brought through the gate at a rapid pace to accompany the Russian infantry advancing inside the fortress. From these cannons the artillerymen fired rapid fire with grapeshot along the streets. The offensive of the Russian artillery inside the fortress city was of great importance, since by this time the Turks had already lost almost all of their artillery located on the fortress walls, and they had no mobile guns for street combat at all. During the first half of the day on December 11, the battle continued in the city, either subsiding or flaring up with renewed vigor. The surviving part of the garrison, in groups of two to three thousand people with individual guns, tried to continue resistance in strong and tall stone buildings. The Turks greeted the Russian fighters approaching these buildings with volleys, poured boiling tar on them, and brought down stones and logs on them. Small fortresses like these were taken by storm, using ladders to overcome the heights and smashing the gates with artillery fire.

L.V. Suvorov, who was among the fighting Russian soldiers, immediately indicated on the ground what needed to be done, how to use artillery, how to get around the enemy from the rear, how to interact with the various units mixed up during the battle, etc. On his orders, Sentinels were immediately assigned to captured powder magazines and weapons depots. Suvorov strictly forbade lighting anything on fire, since a fire on the streets of the city could rather hamper the offensive of the Russian troops than the defense of the Turks.

Next to the stone cavalier stood a very solid building. Seraskir Aidozli Mehmet Pasha defended it with 2 thousand of the best Janissaries, who had several cannons. The battalion of the Phanagorian Grenadier Regiment with artillery began the assault on this citadel. The battle lasted for almost two hours. First, Russian artillerymen defeated cannonballs gate, then the grenadiers burst into the building, where a fierce hand-to-hand fight took place. The Janissaries did not give up and defended themselves until last person. Russian soldiers bayoneted the entire garrison of the citadel. Among the killed enemies was Izmail’s commandant Aidozli Mehmet Pasha.

The Turks stubbornly resisted under the command of Mahmut Girey Sultan in the building of the Armenian monastery, which had high and thick walls. The Russians smashed the gates of the monastery with cannonballs and destroyed its defenders in hand-to-hand combat.

About 5 thousand Turkish Janissaries and Crimean Tatars led by Kaplan-Girey, gathered in the city square, to the sounds of their music, fiercely attacked a detachment of Black Sea Cossacks and even took away two cannons. Two naval grenadier battalions and a battalion of rangers rushed to the rescue, crushing the enemies with a bayonet attack and killing them. The stone cavalier with a garrison of several thousand Janissaries, led by the megafis (governor) of Ishmael, held out the longest. Marines, the rangers and Cossacks took this stronghold by storm.

By one o'clock in the afternoon, Russian ground forces and sailors of the flotilla, fighting to clear the streets and buildings of Izmail from the enemy, reached the middle of the city, where the Turks still continued to stubbornly defend themselves, using the slightest opportunity for resistance. The incredible bitterness of both sides in the battle was explained simply: for the Russians, the capture of Izmail meant the speedy end of the war with Turkey and a blow to the emerging hostile coalition of Western European powers; For the entire Turkish garrison, the defense of the fortress was a matter of life and death, for the Sultan ordered the execution of anyone who survived the surrender of Ishmael.

Watching the progress of the battle vigilantly, Suvorov decided to deal the final blow to the enemy. He ordered the cavalry in reserve - four squadrons of carabinieri, four squadrons of hussars and two Cossack regiments - to simultaneously attack from the flanks of the remnants of the Turkish garrison, still defending inside the city, through the Brossky and Bendery Gates. Operating on horseback, hussars, Cossacks and carabinieri cut into the crowds of Turks. Clearing the streets and alleys of the enemy, Russian cavalrymen at times dismounted to fight against enemy ambushes. Skillfully interacting, the infantry, artillery and cavalry successfully defeated the Turks in street combat. Cossack patrols, scattered throughout the city, looked for hidden enemies.

By 4 o'clock. Day Russian ground forces and sailors completely captured the fortress and the city of Izmail. The assault was over. However, throughout the night from December 11 to 12, gunfire continued. Separate groups of Turks, holed up in mosques, houses, cellars and barns, suddenly fired at Russian soldiers.

No one escaped from the Ishmael garrison, with the exception of one Turk, who was slightly wounded and fell from the fortress wall into the Danube, and then swam across it on a log. This only surviving Turk brought the first news of the assault on Izmail to the Grand Vizier.

Suvorov immediately reported to the commander-in-chief Field Marshal Potemkin about the capture of the fortress city of Izmail and the destruction of the Turkish army in it in such expressive words. "The Russian flag is on the walls of Izmail."

Turkish losses were: 33,000 killed and seriously wounded, 10,000 prisoners. Among those killed, in addition to the commandant Izmail Aydozli-Mehmet Pasha, there were 12 more pashas (generals) and 51 senior officers - unit commanders.

The trophies of the Russian troops amounted to: 265 (according to other sources 300) guns, 345 banners, 42 warships, 3 thousand pounds of gunpowder, 20 thousand cannonballs, 10 thousand horses, 10 million piastres worth of gold, silver, pearls and precious stones and a six-month supply of food for the entire garrison and population of Izmail.

The Russians lost: 1,830 people killed and 2,933 people wounded. 2 generals and 65 officers were killed, 2 generals and 220 officers were wounded.

The next morning, December 12, 1790, from all the Russian artillery in the troops and on the ships of the Danube flotilla, as well as from all the captured cannons, mortars and howitzers located on the walls and in the bastions of the Izmail fortress and on the captured Turkish ships, fire was fired - salute in honor of the Russian troops and navy who took this mighty stronghold. A parade of troops and navy took place, at which A.V. Suvorov thanked the soldiers, sailors and Cossacks for their heroic actions in the battle. One of the battalions of the Phanagorian Grenadier Regiment, which was on guard, could not attend the parade. Suvorov went to the soldiers of the battalion and thanked each of them separately for their participation in the assault.

Russian troops fought with great skill and great heroism. During the assault, Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov especially distinguished himself, leading the attack against the most powerful and main sector of the enemy’s defense - the New Fortress. In a report on December 21, 1790, reporting on the assault on Izmail to G. A. Potemkin, A. V. Suvorov wrote about Kutuzov:

“Major General and Cavalier Golenishchev-Kutuzov showed new experiments in his art and courage, overcoming all difficulties under strong enemy fire, climbed the rampart, captured the bastion and, when the excellent enemy forced him to stop, he, serving as an example of courage, held the place, overcame strong enemy, established himself in the fortress and then continued to defeat the enemies.”

Great commander A.V. Suvorov had exceptional confidence in M.I. Kutuzov. He said: “Order one, hint to another, but Kutuzov doesn’t need to say anything - he understands everything himself.”

Subsequently, Kutuzov asked Suvorov what his appointment as commandant of Izmail at the time of the assault meant.

“Nothing,” he answered. “Kutuzov knows Suvorov, and Suvorov knows Kutuzov.” If Izmail had not been taken, Suvorov would have died by his walls, and Kutuzov too.”

After the assault, M.I. Kutuzov wrote to his wife: “I won’t see such a thing for a century. The hair stands on end. Scary city in our hands." For Izmail Kutuzov was awarded the order and promoted to lieutenant general. From that time on, he acted as a well-known military leader, who was entrusted with increasingly responsible assignments.