Siege of Mikhailovsky

Siege of Mikhailovsky
Part of Russo-Circassian War
The assault of the Mikhailovsky fortification by the Circassians on March 22, 1840
Date March 22, 1840 Location Mikhailovsky fortifications (now Arkhipo-Osipovka, Krasnodar Krai) Result Decisive Circassian victory
Belligerents
Circassia Coastal Circassians: Ubykh Abdzakh Shapsug Natukhaj	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ismail Berzeg Qerzech Shirikhuqo Hawduqo Mansur Yusuf Nicepsiho †	Nikolay Liko † Lieutenant Kraumgold † Lieutenant Timchenko † Lieutenant Beznosov † Arhip Osipov †
Units involved
Ubykh troops Abdzakh troops Shapsug troops Natukhaj troops	Black Sea Line 2nd and 3rd companies of Battalion No. 4 6th Musketeer Company of Navaginsky Infantry Regiment 9th Musketeer Company of Tenginsky Infantry Regiment
Strength
7,000 Circassians	2,776 soldiers 8 cannons
Casualties and losses
2,000 killed	2,776 killed

The Siege of Mikhailovsky (Adyghe:  Михайловски Къэуцухьэ; Russian: Оборона Михайловского укрепления) took place on 3 April 1840 during the Russo-Circassian War. The Circassians defeated the Russian defenses and won the siege. Unwilling to accept defeat, Russian soldier Arhip Osipov infiltrated the powder magazine and detonated the explosives, killing himself, the remnants of the garrison, and a significant number of Circassians. The action was praised in the history of the Russian Army and was described as "symbolic immortality".^[1][2]