Campaigns of Shymkent

Battle of Shymkent
Part of Russian conquest of Central Asia
Date First campaign: 22 July Second campaign: 14-22 September, 1864 Location Shymkent Result First Battle: Russian Retreat Second Battle: Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire Supported by: Qing Dynasty	Khanate of Kokand Kyrgyzs
Commanders and leaders
Mikhail Chernyayev	Alimqul
Strength
1,298[1]	Initial: 25,000[2] Eventual: 10,000
Casualties and losses
6 killed, 41 wounded	First campaign: 3,000 killed Second campaign: 10,000 killed or captured

The Battle of Chymkent took place in 1864 between the Kyrgyz, Khanate of Kokand against the Russian Empire. General Chernyaev besieged Shymkent for ten days, during which there were daily battles; he eventually withdrew without taking the city. Mullah Alimkul then strengthened the city's defenses by gathering a garrison of Uzbeks and Kyrgyz. After finishing this task, he put Mirza-Ahmet in charge of Tashkent and went to Kokand with the Kokand army.^{[3][page needed][4]}In this battle, Qing Dynasty, which was also at war with Kyrgyz, supported Russians.

During the second campaign, Chernyaev acted much more successfully, and was able to take the city, continuing the Russian expansion further to Tashkent.