Siege of Kars (1828)

The Siege of Kars in 1828 was a significant military engagement during the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829. It occurred in June 1828 when the Russian Imperial Army, under the command of General Ivan Paskevich, laid siege to the Ottoman-held city of Kars, located in present-day Turkey.

Kars was a strategically important fortress city, controlling access to much of the Caucasus region. The Ottoman garrison, though of uncertain strength, was well-entrenched within the city's formidable fortifications. Paskevich aimed to capture Kars to secure the Russian southern flank and facilitate further advances into Ottoman territory.

The siege involved a combination of bombardment and direct assault. Russian artillery relentlessly pounded the city's walls, attempting to breach the defenses. Simultaneously, Russian infantry launched attacks on various points of the fortifications. The Ottoman defenders put up a fierce resistance, repelling several Russian assaults and inflicting casualties.

However, the Russian forces maintained their pressure, gradually weakening the Ottoman defenses. Eventually, a well-coordinated assault succeeded in breaching a section of the walls. Following heavy fighting within the city, the Ottoman garrison, faced with overwhelming odds, surrendered to the Russian army on June 23, 1828.

The capture of Kars was a major victory for Russia, opening the way for the invasion of other Ottoman territories in the Caucasus. It significantly weakened the Ottoman position in the region and contributed to the eventual Russian victory in the Russo-Turkish War. The city remained under Russian control for a period following the war.