{{Infobox military conflict , conflict=Siege of Veprik , image=

, caption=The Swedish assault of Veprik 1709 , partof=the

Swedish invasion of Russia The invasion of Russia by Charles XII of Sweden was a campaign undertaken during the Great Northern War between Sweden and the allied states of Russia, Poland, and Denmark. The invasion began with Charles's crossing of the Vistula on 1 January ...

, date=December 23, 1708 ( O.S.)
December 24, 1708 (

Swedish calendar The Swedish calendar ( sv, Svenska kalendern) or Swedish style ( sv, Svenska stilen) was a calendar in use in Sweden and its possessions from 1 March 1700 until 30 February 1712 (see below). It was one day ahead of the Julian calendar and ten da ...

)
January 3, 1709 ( N.S.) , place= Vepryk,

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

, coordinates={{coord, 50, 06, 24, N, 29, 48, 21, E, region:UA, display=inline , result=Swedish victory , combatant1=

Swedish Empire The Swedish Empire was a European great power that exercised territorial control over much of the Baltic region during the 17th and early 18th centuries ( sv, Stormaktstiden, "the Era of Great Power"). The beginning of the empire is usually ta ...

, combatant2=

Tsardom of Russia The Tsardom of Russia or Tsardom of Rus' also externally referenced as the Tsardom of Muscovy, was the centralized Russian state from the assumption of the title of Tsar by Ivan IV in 1547 until the foundation of the Russian Empire by Peter I ...

, commander1= Charles XII of Sweden
Berndt Otto Stackelberg , commander2=

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

Fermor , strength1=3,000 , strength2=1,500 , casualties1=400 killed
600 wounded , casualties2=1,500 killed, wounded or captured , campaignbox={{Campaignbox Great Northern War {{Campaignbox Charles XII invasion of Russia The siege of Veprik took place on January 3 to January 17, 1709 during the

in the

Great Northern War The Great Northern War (1700–1721) was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swed ...

. After the unusual cold winter, many troops had died from both armies and Charles XII of Sweden decided to siege the Russian city of Veprik to put pressure on Tsar Peter I of Russia. In the town there was a garrison of about 1,500 men. After the Russian commander, the Scot Colonel Fermor refused to surrender, Charles XII started a bombardment of the town and later, on 17 January also an assault. After about two hours of intense fighting the Swedes pulled back, unable to capture the town. However, the Russians surrendered on the night to the 18th January and the Swedes could march in by diplomatic. The result of the capture was little, another town had fallen for the Russians but in a strategic view, not much had changed. About 400 Swedes were killed and another 600 wounded. The whole Russian garrison was either killed, captured or wounded. After several days Charles XII burnt down the town.

References

* Bengt Liljegren (2000). Karl XII: En biografi. Lund: Historiska Media. pp. 167. * Peter From (2007). Katastrofen vid Poltava - Karl XII:s ryska fälttåg 1707-1709. Lund: Historiska Media. pp. 251. Veprik Veprik Veprik Veprik Veprik