Chronological listing of the battles of the Battles of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)

List of Battles

''Key: (R) – Russian victory; (O) – Ottoman victory; (I) – Inconclusive''

1877

* June 26 –

Battle of Simnitza The Battle of Simnitza took place between the Russians and the Ottoman Empire, Turks fought on 26 June 1877 at Svishtov (Sistova), on the right bank of the Danube in present-day Veliko Tarnovo Province, Bulgaria. The Russians won the battle and ...

; Russians begin crossing the

Danube River The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...

(R) * June 26 –

Battle of Svistov The Battle of Svistov was a battle of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. It was fought between the Ottoman Empire and Imperial Russia on 26 June 1877. It occurred when Russian general Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov crossed the Danube River i ...

; Russians reduce fortress and move on to Nikopol (R) * July 12 - Battle of Elena I (O) * July 16 –

Battle of Nikopol The Battle of Nikopol, ''or Nicopolis'' ( Turkish: Niğbolu Muharebesi), was one of the early battles of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). As the Russian army crossed the Danube River, they approached the fortified city of Nikopol (Nicop ...

; Russians move into

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...

(R) * July 17 – Battle of Shipka Pass I; Russians capture Shipka Pass (R) * July 20 –

Siege of Plevna The siege of Pleven, was a major battle of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, fought by the joint army of Russia and Romania against the Ottoman Empire. After the Russian army crossed the Danube at Svishtov, it began advancing towards t ...

begins (R) * July 20 - First battle of Plevna Ottomans repulse the Russian attack (O) * July 31 - Second battle of Plevna Ottomans repulse the Russian attack (O) * August 21 – Battle of Shipka Pass II; Russians repulse Ottoman attack on Shipka Pass (R) * August 25 –

Battle of Kızıl Tepe The Battle of Kizil-tepe ( Turkish: ''Kızıltepe Muharebresi'') was fought on August 25, 1877, between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synony ...

; Russian attempt at besieging

Kars Kars (; ku, Qers; ) is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. Its population is 73,836 in 2011. Kars was in the ancient region known as ''Chorzene'', (in Greek Χορζηνή) in classical historiography ( Strabo), part of ...

is driven off (O) * September 3 – Battle of Lovcha; Russians reduce during the

siege of Plevna The siege of Pleven, was a major battle of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, fought by the joint army of Russia and Romania against the Ottoman Empire. After the Russian army crossed the Danube at Svishtov, it began advancing towards t ...

(R) * September 11 - Third battle of Plevna Ottomans repulse the Russian attack (O) * September 13 – Battle of Shipka Pass III; Russians repulse second Ottoman attack on Shipka Pass (R) * October 2/4 – Battle of Yahni; The Russians made some gains but were not able to hold them (O) * October 12/15 – Battle of Aladzha; Ottoman army under Hadji Resit Pasha surrenders (R) * October 24 –

Battle of Gorni Dubnik The Battle of Gorni Dubnik was a battle in the Russo-Turkish War on 24 October 1877. In an effort to reduce the fortress of Pleven quicker, Russian forces began targeting garrisons along the Ottoman supply and communications route. A significant ...

; Russians capture Turkish redoubt guarding Plevna supply lines (R) * November 4 – Battle of Deve Boyun; Russian general Heimann won a further battle (R) * November 8/9 – Battle of Erzurum; Russians fail to capture

Erzurum Erzurum (; ) is a city in eastern Anatolia, Turkey. It is the largest city and capital of Erzurum Province and is 1,900 meters (6,233 feet) above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 367,250 in 2010. The city uses the double-headed eagle as ...

in an attack (O) * November 17 –

Battle of Kars The Battle of Kars was a decisive Russian victory over the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). The battle for the city took place on November 17th, 1877, and resulted in the Russians capturing the city along with a large por ...

; Russians seize Ottoman fortress in the Caucasus region (R) * December 4 - Battle of Elena II (O) * December 10 – Plevna capitulates to Russia (R) * December 14 - Battle of Elena III (R) * December 31 –

Battle of Tashkessen The Battle of Tashkessen or Battle of Tashkesan ( Turkish: ''Taşkesen Muharebesi'') was a battle of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. It was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire on December 31, 1877, in what is now Bulg ...

; covering the general withdrawal, Turks briefly check Russian advance (O)

1878

* January 4 –

Battle of Sofia The Battle of Sofia ( bg, Битката при София) was the culmination of Russian General Iosif Gurko's Western Squad for the defeat of the Orhaniye army in the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). It led to the Liberation of Sofia from Tu ...

: General Gourko liberates

Sofia Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and ha ...

from Turkish rule (R) * January 5 –

Battle of Shipka Pass IV The Battle of Shipka Pass consisted of four battles that were fought between the Russian Empire, aided by Bulgarian volunteers known as opalchentsi, and the Ottoman Empire for control over the vital Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish War (187 ...

; General Gourko crushes Turks at Shipka Pass (R) * January 17 – Battle of Philippopolis; Gourko routes Turkish forces and moves to within striking distance of

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

(R)

List of Battles

1877

1878

See also