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The Battle of Kulevicha, also known as the Battle of Kulevcha or Kulewtscha, was fought during the Russo-Turkish War, 1828–1829, on 11 June 1829, between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. It ended with a Russian victory achieved by Commander Hans von Diebitsch (Ivan Dibich-Zabalkansky).[3]
The Russians, led by Hans Karl von Diebitsch (German-born general serving the Russian Empire), marched against the Ottomans led by Grand Vizier Reşid Mehmed Pasha[2] (Georgian-born general enslaved as a child by the Ottomans) with the objective of relievingSilistria, 40 miles (64 km) west of the village of Kulevicha.
First Reşid Pasha with an Army's 40,000-strong main force inclusive of 56 guns came out of Shumla with the aim of defeating the Russian detachment sent under the Russian command's plan to lure the Ottomans out of this town, and assisting the besieged Ottoman troops with his active actions. Then Diebitsch, leaving part of his troops to continue the siege, with the main forces (about 30,000 people, 146 guns) moved against the Ottoman army and cut the way for its potential retreat, thus forcing Grand Vizier to give pitched battle.[2]
In the morning of 11 June the Russian vanguard under the command of General of the InfantryYa. O. Otroshchenko attacked his enemy and captured the heights near the village of Kulevicha, but under the onslaught of superior opponent forces was forced to abandon them, suffering losses. The Russian artillery fire and bayonet counterattacks of the Russian infantry stopped the Ottoman troops' advance. Having regrouped the forces by this evening (the Russian troops participating in the battle numbered ca. 18,000 men; how many Ottoman troops participated is not stated in the source used), supported by artillery fire, the Russian army went on the offensive and, having turned the Ottoman troops into flight, pursued them for about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi).[2]
ロシア軍は勝利を収め、トルコ軍は谷に閉じ込められ、撤退する前に大きな損害を被った。[ 3 ]ディービッチ将軍はその後アドリアノープルに向かった。[ 3 ]
オスマン帝国軍はブルガリアにおいて様々な任務を課せられたが、中でも最も重要なのはハジュクの反乱鎮圧であった。しかし、シリストリアにおける絶え間ない戦闘の緩和や、ロシア軍のブルガリアへのさらなる進軍阻止など、他にもより重要な任務がオスマン帝国軍に課せられていた。