Russo-Turkish War (1672–1681)

The Russo-Turkish War of 1672–1681, also known as the Chigirin Wars, was a conflict between the Tsardom of Russia and the Ottoman Empire, primarily over control of Ukraine. The conflict began following the Ottoman Empire's successful campaign against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Polish-Ottoman War (1672-1676), which resulted in Ottoman control over Podolia and parts of Ukraine.

The key flashpoint was the Cossack Hetmanate, a region within Ukraine that was contested by Poland, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire. After the pro-Polish Hetman Petro Doroshenko was ousted, Russia sought to consolidate its influence over the Left-bank Ukraine. The Ottomans, under Sultan Mehmed IV and his Grand Vizier Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Pasha, aimed to establish their own protectorate over the entire region.

The war was characterized by a series of raids and counter-raids, sieges, and pitched battles. The initial Ottoman offensives focused on capturing Chigirin (modern Chyhyryn), a strategically important Cossack stronghold on the right bank of the Dnieper River. The Russians, allied with some Cossack factions, mounted a vigorous defense, resulting in intense fighting and heavy casualties on both sides.

Notable battles included the sieges of Chigirin in 1677 and 1678. The Ottomans eventually captured Chigirin in 1678 after a costly and destructive siege. Despite this victory, the Ottoman advance was hampered by logistical difficulties, Russian resistance, and raids by Zaporozhian Cossacks.

The war concluded with the Treaty of Bakhchisarai in 1681. The treaty established the border between Russia and the Ottoman Empire along the Dnieper River. The Ottoman Empire retained control over Podolia, while Russia secured control over the Left-bank Ukraine and Kyiv. The Zaporozhian Cossacks were granted autonomy within the border zone. While the treaty brought a temporary peace, the underlying tensions over control of the region persisted and contributed to future conflicts between Russia and the Ottoman Empire.