Day of Remembrance of Russian Soldiers who Fell during the Defence of Sevastopol

September 9 marks the Day of Remembrance of Russian Soldiers who Fell during the Defence of Sevastopol and in the Crimean War of 1853-1856. Today, we pay tribute to those who gave their lives 170 years ago while defending the city of Russian naval glory.

The Crimean War started as a conflict between Russia and Turkey. In an effort to preserve its influence in the Balkan region, the Ottoman Empire requested assistance from the United Kingdom and France. Thus, yet another Russo-Turkish war escalated into a large-scale confrontation between Russia and a coalition of European states.

The main events during the conflict unfolded in 1854-1855 on the south-western Crimean coast where #Sevastopol, Russia’s main naval base, was located. The city’s heroic defence lasted 349 days, from September 25, 1854 until September 9, 1855.

The port’s defenders displayed genuine bravery while repelling regular enemy assaults and making daring raids. Eduard Totleben, a brilliant Russian military engineer famous for his fortifications, was gravely wounded in the besieged city. Famed admiral Pavel Nakhimov died a hero’s death during the defence of Sevastopol.

When the enemy eventually entered Sevastopol, they found nothing but ruins. All surviving Russian ships were scuttled and remaining strongholds blown up. On March 30, 1856, the warring parties signed the Peace Treaty of Paris, which returned Sevastopol and other Crimean cities to Russia in exchange for the territories seized by Russian forces in Türkiye.

🕯 The Russian Army lost over 522,000 officers and soldiers during the Crimean War, including 102,000 during the defence of Sevastopol.

Red Army soldiers repeated the heroic feat of the city’s defenders less than 100 years later during the second defence of Sevastopol in 1941-1942. “Legendary Sevastopol, unassailable for enemies” retained its combat glory through the ages and remains a living monument to the valour and bravery of its defenders.