In world history, the Russian army is considered one of the most combat-ready, and according to ratings and the strongest in the world today. Direct confirmation of this is the multiple victories of the Russian army, sometimes over significantly superior enemy forces.
The glorious history of the great victories of the Russian army and navy dates back to the time of the princely period. We turn over the pages of history and consider the largest victories of Russian weapons from the moment of the formation of Kievan Rus to the end of the Second World War.
In addition to land operations, consider battles at sea.
Great victories of the Russian army
1
Hike to Constantinople
In 882, from the birth of Christ, the Russian state was formed, the center of which was Kiev. The strongest neighbor of Russia was Byzantium.
The raids of the "northern Scythians" on Constantinople, as the Rus were called in the Byzantine chronicles, began in the 60s of the VIII century. And in 907, as the Tale of Bygone Years narrates, Prince Oleg took Constantinople and nailed his shields on the gates of the city.
It is noteworthy, but the victory of the Slavs, not a single word is mentioned in the Byzantine sources, may be silent about the unpleasant period of their history.
2
The defeat of the Khazars
In the long geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the Khazar Kaganate, the denouement happened with the coming to power of the warrior-prince Svyatoslav Igorevich.
In 965, Svyatoslav made a long hike, bypassing the eastern borders of the Khazars, and took the capital of the Khazars, the city of Itil in the lower Volga. After that, he besieged and took the Sarkel fortress (Belaya Vezha in the annals) that stood on the Don.
The East Slavic tribes that were part of the Khazaria’s sphere of influence joined the Russian state.
3
Neva battle
In the year 1240, when most of the cities lay in ruins after the invasion of Batu, Prince Alexander began the struggle against the Swedes, who tried to seize the northern lands of Russia, Pskov and Veliky Novgorod.
The first major battle between the Novgorod army and the Swedes took place at the mouth of the Neva, where one of the first glorious victories of Russian weapons was won.
After the battle, Alexander Yaroslavovich, the Grand Duke of Kiev, Prince of Vladimir and Novgorod, received the nickname Nevsky.
4
Battle on the Ice
Two years later, on April 5, 1242, Alexander consolidated the success of Russia and defeated the German knights on the ice of Lake Peipsi. Success was predetermined by the right choice of place and the chosen strategy.
This event finally stopped the promotion of the Livonian Order of Knight in Russian lands, and the Western countries for a long time refused to raid the eastern neighbor.
But the young state did not have enough strength to resist the Mongol-Tatars, and for many years Russia fell under the yoke of the Golden Horde.
5
Kulikovo battle
The Kulikovo field, where the Nepryadva River flows into the Don, became the place where the long process of liberation from the yoke of the Golden Horde began on September 8, 1380.
Prince Dmitry of Moscow decided to prevent Mamaia’s campaign against Moscow, and, gathering a great army, went out to meet the Tatars. The battle was preceded by a duel between the batyr Chelubey and the hero Peresvet. Both mortally wounded each other, but the Russian warrior remained in the saddle.
Using tactics unusual at that time using an ambush regiment, Dmitry won a glorious victory.
6
Standing on the Ugra
As such, the battle in 1480 did not occur, although Ivan III and the Horde Khan Akhmat led thousands of armed detachments to the Ugra River.
After several minor hassles of reconnaissance detachments, and a two-day stand against each other, both the Russians and the Tatars simultaneously turned around and took their soldiers from the battlefield.
This event finally liberated Russia from the Tatar-Mongol yoke and contributed to the consolidation of Russian lands around Moscow.
7
Battle of the Youth
After the collapse of the Golden Horde, the main opponents of Russia in the south became the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean Khanate. In 1572, having gathered a 60,000th army, the Crimean Khan Devlet I Giray moved to Moscow.
Toward him, Russian regiments advanced under the command of Princes Mikhail Vorotynsky and Dmitry Hvorostinin. Two armies converged near the village of Molody 50 miles from the capital.
In a three-day battle, Russian troops won a landslide victory, which for many years stopped the raids on their lands from the territory of Crimea, and also finally secured Russia’s middle and lower Volga region.
8
Moscow battle
In history books, this event was also included under the title “Battle on the Maiden Field”. For many years, turmoil reigned in Russia, which led to the Polish occupation of the state capital.
In Nizhny Novgorod, on the initiative of Kozma Minin, a militia was organized, led by Dmitry Pozharsky. In August 1612, a battle took place between the Russian troops and the Polish-Lithuanian forces of Hetman Khodkevich.
The victory put an end to the turmoil and liberated Moscow from Polish troops. The main thing is that Poland's hopes of seizing the entire Russian state have collapsed.
9
Poltava battle
During the long Northern War, two huge armies of Swedes and Russians came together on the field near Poltava on July 8, 1709, under the personal command of the rulers of Peter I and Charles XII.
After several Swedish attacks on Russian redoubts in the main battle, Peter's troops defeated the Swedish army and put it to flight. The Little Russian Hetman Ivan Mazepa, who on the eve went over to the side of the enemy of Russia, did not help Karl and his ally.
After the victory near Poltava, the strategic initiative passed to Russia, but the war continued for many years, but Russia fulfilled its main goal - it went to the Baltic Sea.
10
Battle of Gangut
The first major naval battle during the Northern War occurred on July 27, 1714 at Cape Gangut on the islands of modern Finland.
The Russian and Swedish fleets, lined up in battle formations, began shelling each other. None of the parties could prevail, and only a decisive breakthrough of the Russian ships, which took the Swedes by surprise, hello to the final victory.
It was a real test. The newly-born navy of the Russian Empire, and the sailors, passed the test with honor.
11
Battle of Grengam
By the will of fate, the second naval battle with the Swedish fleet occurred on the same day, July 27, but only 6 years after Gangut.
The battle of Grengam in the Baltic was the final in the Northern War. The ships of the Russian fleet, approaching the cape, were unexpectedly attacked by the Swedes. But Commander Mikhail Golitsyn was not at a loss, and through skillful actions forced the Swedish ships to retreat.
Having won the battle of Grengam, Russia firmly established itself in the Baltic region, and also brought closer the conclusion of a peace treaty with Sweden.
12
Chesme battle
The Russian fleet won one of the first glorious victories in the southern seas in the confrontation with the Turks in Chesmenskaya Bay in June 1770.
During the battle, the Turkish squadron was almost completely destroyed. Russian ships sunk 15 battleships, 6 frigates and 13 galleys. In addition, 33 small vessels were launched to the bottom.
The Chesme victory was the beginning of the dominance of the Russian fleet in the waters of the Black Sea, and sailors and naval officers gained invaluable combat experience.
13
The Battle of Kozlugi
One of the most important victories, according to thebiggest.ru, was obtained by Russian weapons during the Russian-Turkish war of 1768–1774. The Russian army was commanded by Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kamensky.
Moving towards the Shumla fortress, the Russians met with the enemy on June 9, 1774 near the town of Kozludzhi. Skillful and coordinated actions of the commanders, as well as the fearlessness of the soldiers, ensured the victory over the superior forces of the Turkish army.
A month after the defeat near Kozludzha, Turkey requested a truce.
14
Battle of Shipka
Shipka defense became one of the key moments of the Russo-Turkish war. On January 10, 1778, on a mountain pass, the Russian army won a brilliant victory over the superior forces of the Turks under the command of Suleiman Pasha.
Only the guns that were captured from the Turks were 93 units, and the total losses of the Turkish army amounted to more than 6 thousand soldiers.
This operation became a real example of the courage and fortitude of Russian soldiers, and Bulgarian militias bravely fought for their freedom and independence with the Russians.
15
Storm Ochakova
Now the US naval base is being built in Ochakovo, and once a lot of blood was shed to make it a part of Russia.
During the war with the Turks, an order was given to take the fortress. Russian troops were commanded by Grigory Potemkin, and Alexander Suvorov led the assault directly.
The Turks fiercely resisted, but the skillful actions of the Suvorov soldiers led to the capture of the fortress on December 6, 1788. In 1891, Ochakov fortress and the land around it became part of Russia.
16
The Battle of Cape Tendra
In the Black Sea in August 1790, the Russian and Turkish squadrons converged in battle at Cape Tendra. Victory in the battle would finally dot the i who will dominate this region.
The Russian squadron was commanded by the most talented Rear Admiral of the Fleet, Fedor Ushakov, who was opposed by the Turkish fleet led by Giritli Hussein Pasha.
In a two-day battle, Russian ships almost completely destroyed the Turkish fleet, and significantly closer the signing of a peace treaty. The victory once again proved the superiority of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea.
And about the biggest defeats of the Russian army on our site thebiggest.ru there is a very interesting article. The history of their defeats teaches no worse than great victories!
17
The capture of Ishmael
The talent of the commander Suvorov was also manifested during the capture of the Turkish fortress Izmail in December 1790. Prior to this, many attempts to take the fortress by other commanders were unsuccessful.
Suvorov, having arrived near Ishmael, trained his soldiers to storm the walls on mock-ups for a week. As it turned out, it was hard to learn, easy in battle, and as a result of a powerful and lightning-fast assault, the fortress was taken.
The losses of the Turks were huge, and the army of Suvorov again completed the task with much less forces than the enemy.
18
Swiss trek
Many glorious and heroic victories are associated with the name of Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov, but let us recall one of the most significant and incredible.
For 17 days in the fall of 1799, Russian troops under the command of the field marshal crossed the Alps, and reached the rear of the French troops in Austria.
Having fought a long distance, the army was surrounded in Mutenskaya Valley. But here the talent of the commander and strategist was manifested. The superior forces of the French were defeated, and Suvorov led his soldiers out of the encirclement.
19
Borodino
In the early morning of August 26, 1812, French artillery began shelling Russian positions. The Battle of Borodino began, during which Russian soldiers and officers bravely fought with the advancing troops of the Emperor Napoleon.
Neither side could achieve an advantage, but Commander-in-Chief Mikhail Kutuzov ordered to withdraw. One of the bloodiest battles of the 19th century is over.
Napoleon himself gave an objective assessment of the battle of Borodino, saying that the French were worthy to win, and the Russians defended the right to be invincible.
20
The Battle of Elizabethpol
The main battle of the Russian-Persian confrontation near the city of Elisavetpol took place on September 13, 1826.
After a long artillery duel, both sides went on the offensive. Under the pressure of the Persians, the Georgian and Azerbaijani militias retreated, but the soldiers under the command of General Paskevich quickly restored the status quo and forced the Persians to retreat.
The victory over the army of Abass-Mirza was the first victory in the reign of Nicholas I, and Paskevich was presented with a golden sword encrusted with diamonds.
21
The capture of Erivani
The capture of this fortress finally strengthened Russia's position in the Transcaucasus. Built in the Middle Ages, the fortress was considered impregnable.
Ivan Paskevich competently organized the assault. Infantry operations were supported by artillery. Unable to withstand the onslaught, on the 9th day of the assault, on October 5, 1827, the fortress of Erivani surrendered.
In the defeated city, the scene of the local palace was first played by Alexander Griboedov's play “Woe from Wit”.
22
Sinop battle
The defeat of the Turkish fleet on November 18, 1853 was commanded by the outstanding Russian vice admiral and naval commander Pavel Nakhimov.
At Cape Sinop, the Turks concentrated huge forces and prepared to defeat the Russian Black Sea Fleet. But with the start of the battle, it became clear that the talent and skillful tactics of Nakhimov would allow him to win and defeat the forces of the Turks.
The total losses of the Turkish fleet amounted to 7 frigates and 3 corvettes, and the Turkish commander was captured. The victory changed the course of the Russo-Turkish war, and the victors solemnly entered the bay of Sevastopol and began to raid.
23
Battle of galicia
One of the first victorious military operations of the Russian army in the war with the Triple Alliance. In the Battle of Galicia, troops were opposed by units of the Austro-Hungarian army.
The fighting continued during August-September 1914, and ended with the complete defeat of the Austro-Hungarian units in Galicia. Russia occupied Lviv and went to Przemysl. The Germans and Austrians were forced to transfer significant forces to the fortress, and Russia's actions thereby saved the army of Serbia from complete defeat.
On our site thebiggest.ru you can also look at the list of European countries with which Russia fought.
24
Capture Przemysl
Powerful artillery during the First World War showed that fortified cities could not resist its massive shelling. So it happened in the battle of Przemysl.
In October 1914, it was not possible to seize the fortress on the fly, and then a long siege was organized with constant shelling of the walls at the defensive fortifications.
The siege saga ended on March 9, 1915, as a result of which Russian troops entered Przemysl. 9 generals, 2,300 officers and nearly 130,000 enemy soldiers were captured. The successful operation significantly raised the spirit in the ranks of the Russian army.
25
Brusilovsky breakthrough
Perhaps the most successful military operation of the Russian army in the series of numerous battles of the First World War, as a result of which in June 1916 the army, under the command of General Alexei Brusilov, broke through the front and advanced 70 kilometers deep into enemy positions.
The breakthrough in Galicia contributed to a change in the strategic position on the Southwestern Front and facilitated the position of the Entente allies in the battle on the Somme River.
According to various estimates, German and Austro-Hungarian losses amounted to about 1.5 million people. During the operation, the Russian army occupied Volyn, part of Galicia and Bukovina.
26
Moscow defense
The long-term military operation of the Red Army to defend Moscow and the subsequent counterattack, as a result of which the Nazi troops were driven back from the city by 150-200 kilometers.
The Red Army counter-offensive operation began on December 5, 1941 and ended in early January 1942. The victory near Moscow completely destroyed the Germans' plans for a lightning seizure of the USSR and was the collapse of Hitler's operation "Typhoon" to seize the Soviet capital.
27
Battle of stalingrad
The battle near Stalingrad was divided into two components: a defensive operation and the offensive of Soviet military units with the support of aviation and tank formations, followed by encirclement and destruction of the 6th Paulus Army.
The offensive of the Soviet troops began on November 19, 1942, and went into historical literature as Operation Uranus. Only on February 2, 43 surrounded German forces surrendered.
Only captured prisoners lost the Germans 100 thousand officers and soldiers. The victory near the city near the Volga marked a radical turning point during the war.
28
Storming Berlin
The military operation to capture Berlin was the final stage of the Berlin operation and victorious for the Soviet troops during the Great Patriotic War and forced Germany to sign the act of surrender.
The assault began on April 25, 1945 by forces of two fronts, and on May 1, a red banner was already hoisted over the Reichstag. On May 2, the Berlin garrison capitulated.
After the capture of Berlin, Soviet troops advanced to the Elbe, where they connected with parts of the US and British army, although many experts spoke out that there was no strategic need to capture Berlin, and Germany surrendered in time to capitulate.
Conclusion
The great victories of the Russian army are written in gold letters on the pages of Russian and world history as a warning to those who try again to encroach on the independence of Russia. Many glorious battles and victories became days of military glory, a vivid example of patriotism and fidelity to military duty.
TheBiggest.ru editors are asking you to write in the comments what other victories of the Russian army we have undeservedly bypassed.
Article author: Valery Skiba