The main reasons for the defeat of Russia in the Crimean war

Crimean War answered the old dream of Nicholas I to get the Black Sea straits into the possession of Russia, which Catherine the Great dreamed about. This was contrary to the plans of the Great European Powers, which intended to oppose Russia and help the Ottomans in the coming war.

The main causes of the Crimean War

The history of the Russian-Turkish wars is incredibly long and controversial, however, the Crimean War is perhaps the brightest page in this history. There were many reasons for the Crimean War of 1853-1856, but they all converged on one thing: Russia sought to destroy the dying empire, while Turkey opposed this and was going to use military operations to suppress the liberation movement of the Balkan peoples. The plans of London and Paris did not include the strengthening of Russia, so they expected to weaken it, at best, separating Finland, Poland, the Caucasus and Crimea from Russia. In addition, the French still remembered the humiliating loss of the war with the Russians during the reign of Napoleon.

Rice. 1. Map of the fighting of the Crimean War.

When Emperor Napoleon III ascended the throne, Nicholas I did not consider him a legitimate ruler, since after Patriotic War and the Foreign Campaign, the Bonaparte dynasty was excluded from possible contenders for the throne in France. The Russian Emperor addressed Napoleon in a congratulatory letter as "my friend" and not "my brother", as etiquette required. It was a personal slap in the face of one emperor to another.

Rice. 2. Portrait of Nicholas I.

Briefly about the causes of the Crimean War of 1853-1856, we will collect information in the table.

The immediate reason for the fighting was the question of control in Bethlehem of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Turkish sultan handed over the keys to the Catholics, which offended Nicholas I, which led to the outbreak of hostilities through the entry of Russian troops into the territory of Moldova.

Reasons for Russia's defeat in the Crimean War

Russia took an unequal battle in the Crimean (or as printed in the Western press - Eastern) war. But this was not the only reason for the future defeat.

The Allied forces greatly outnumbered the Russian soldiers. Russia fought with dignity and was able to achieve the maximum during this war, although it lost it.

Another reason for the defeat was the diplomatic isolation of Nicholas I. He pursued a flamboyant imperialist policy, which caused irritation and hatred from his neighbors.

Despite the heroism of the Russian soldier and some officers, theft took place among the highest ranks. A vivid example of this is A.S. Menshikov, who was nicknamed the "traitor".

An important reason is the military-technical backwardness of Russia from the countries of Europe. So, when sailing ships were still in service in Russia, the French and English fleets already made full use of the steam fleet, which showed its best side during the calm. Allied soldiers used rifled guns that fired more accurately and farther than Russian smoothbore guns. The situation was similar in artillery.

The classic reason was the low level of infrastructure development. Railways did not yet lead to the Crimea, and the spring thaws killed the road system, which reduced the provision of the army.

The result of the war was the Treaty of Paris, according to which Russia did not have the right to have a navy on the Black Sea, and also lost its protectorate over the Danube principalities and returned South Bessarabia to Turkey.

What have we learned?

Although the Crimean War was lost, it showed Russia the ways of future development and pointed out weaknesses in the economy, military affairs, social sphere. There was a patriotic upsurge throughout the country, and the heroes of Sevastopol were made national heroes.

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Crimean War: why Russia lost it

Crimean War 1853-1856(otherwise - the Eastern War) is a war between the Russian Empire, on the one hand, and a coalition of the British, French, Ottoman empires and the Kingdom of Sardinia, on the other. fighting unfolded in the Caucasus, in the Danube principalities, in the Baltic, Black, Azov, White and Barents Seas, as well as in Kamchatka and the Kuriles. They reached the greatest tension in the Crimea.

In the spring of 1854, Britain and France declared war on the Russian Empire. This was the beginning of a radical turning point in the Crimean War. It was from this moment that the record of the end and decline of the once mighty Russian Empire began.

The main reasons for the defeat of Russia in the Crimean War

Reassessment of power

The situation was aggravated by the fact that he was always surrounded by flatterers. The historian Tarle wrote that at the beginning of 1854 in the Baltic states in noble circles, a poem was distributed in numerous copies in German, in the first stanza of which the author addressed the king with the words: “You, from whom not a single mortal disputes the right to be called the greatest man that the earth has ever seen. The vain Frenchman, the proud Briton, bow before you, blazing with envy - the whole world lies in adoration at your feet. It is not surprising, therefore, that Nicholas I burned with ambition and was eager to carry out his plans, which cost Russia thousands of lives.

Rampant embezzlement

In no other European army was the situation so dire. Nicholas I knew about the scale of this disaster, but he could not do anything about the situation. So, he was stunned by the case of the director of the office of the disabled fund Politkovsky, who stole more than a million rubles from the budget. The scale of corruption during the Crimean War was such that Russia managed to restore the treasury deficit only 14 years after the signing of the Paris Treaty.

The backwardness of the army

In addition, the Russian army was armed with guns with various calibers: 6-12-pound field guns, 12-24-pound and pood siege unicorns, 6, 12, 18, 24- and 36-pound bomb guns. Such a number of calibers greatly complicated the supply of ammunition to the army. Finally, Russia had practically no steam ships, and the sailing ships had to be sunk at the entrance to the Sevastopol Bay, which was obviously an extreme measure to deter the enemy.

Negative image of Russia

During the reign of Nicholas I Russian empire began to claim the title of "gendarme of Europe". In 1826-1828, the Erivan (Yerevan) and Nakhichevan khanates went to Russia, next year, after the war with Turkey, the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the mouth of the Danube were annexed to Russia. The advance of Russia in Central Asia also continued. By 1853, the Russians came close to the Syr Darya.

Russia also showed serious ambitions in Europe, which could not but irritate the European powers. In April 1848, Russia and Turkey, by the Baltiliman Act, liquidated the autonomy of the Danube Principalities. In June 1849, with the help of a 150,000-strong Russian expeditionary army, the Hungarian revolution in the Austrian Empire was suppressed. Nicholas I believed in his power. His imperial ambitions turned Russia into a bogey for the advanced European powers. The image of an aggressive Russia became one of the reasons for the rallying of Britain and France in the Crimean War. Russia began to claim hegemony in Europe, which could not but rally the European powers. The Crimean War is considered to be "pre-world". Russia defended itself on several fronts - in the Crimea, Georgia, the Caucasus, Sveaborg, Kronstadt, Solovki and the Kamchatka front. In fact, Russia fought alone, on our side were insignificant Bulgarian forces (3000 soldiers) and the Greek Legion (800 people). Having set everyone against herself, showing insatiable ambitions, in fact Russia did not have the power reserve to resist England and France. During the Crimean War, there was still no concept of propaganda in Russia, while the British used their propaganda machine with might and main to inject a negative image of the Russian army.

Failure of diplomacy

Under the terms of the agreement, Russia returned Kars to Turkey in exchange for Sevastopol, Balaklava and other cities in the Crimea, captured by the allies; conceded to the Moldavian Principality the mouth of the Danube and part of Southern Bessarabia. The Black Sea was declared neutral, but Russia and Turkey could not keep a navy there. Russia and Turkey could only maintain 6 steam ships of 800 tons each and 4 ships of 200 tons each for guard duty. The autonomy of Serbia and the Danubian Principalities was confirmed, but the Turkish Sultan's supreme power over them was preserved. The previously adopted provisions of the London Convention of 1841 on the closure of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles for military vessels of all countries except Turkey were confirmed. Russia pledged not to build military fortifications on the Aland Islands and in the Baltic Sea. The patronage of the Turkish Christians was transferred into the hands of the "concern" of all the great powers, that is, England, France, Austria, Prussia and Russia. Finally, the treaty deprived our country of the right to protect the interests of the Orthodox population in the territory of the Ottoman Empire.

Ignorance of Nicholas I

Fyodor Tyutchev wrote about Nicholas I as follows: “In order to create such a hopeless situation, the monstrous stupidity of this unfortunate man was needed, who during his thirty-year reign, being constantly in the most favorable conditions, did not take advantage of anything and missed everything, managing to start a fight under the most impossible circumstances." Thus, it can be said that the Crimean War, which turned into a disaster for Russia, was caused by the personal ambitions of the emperor, who was prone to adventures and seeking to maximize the boundaries of his power.

Shepherd's ambition

One of the main causes of the Crimean War was the conflict between the Orthodox and Catholic churches in resolving the issue of "Palestinian shrines." Here the interests of Russia and France clashed. Nicholas I, who did not recognize Napoleon III as a legitimate emperor, was sure that Russia would have to fight only with a “sick man,” as he called the Ottoman Empire. With England, the Russian emperor hoped to negotiate, and also counted on the support of Austria. These calculations of the "pastor" Nicholas I turned out to be erroneous, and the "crusade" turned into a real disaster for Russia.

Reassessment of power

Nicholas I was convinced of the invincibility of the Russian Empire. Successful military operations in the Caucasus, Turkey and Central Asia gave rise to the Russian emperor's ambitions to separate the Balkan possessions of the Ottoman Empire, as well as faith in the power of Russia and its ability to claim hegemony in Europe. Baron Stockmar, friend and tutor of Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, wrote in 1851: “When I was young, Napoleon ruled over the continent of Europe. Now it looks like the Russian emperor has taken the place of Napoleon, and that for at least a few years he, with other intentions and other means, will also dictate laws to the continent. Nikolai himself thought about the same. The situation was aggravated by the fact that he was always surrounded by flatterers. The historian Tarle wrote that at the beginning of 1854 in the Baltic states in noble circles, a poem in German was distributed in numerous copies, in the first stanza of which the author addressed the king with the words: “You, with whom not a single mortal disputes the right to be called the greatest man that the earth has only seen. The vain Frenchman, the proud Briton, bow before you, blazing with envy - the whole world lies in adoration at your feet. It is not surprising, therefore, that Nicholas I burned with ambition and was eager to carry out his plans, which cost Russia thousands of lives.

Rampant embezzlement

The story about how Karamzin was asked in Europe to tell in a nutshell about the situation in Russia became commonplace, but he didn’t need two words, he answered with one: “They are stealing.” By the middle of the 19th century, the situation had not changed for the better. Embezzlement in Russia has acquired total proportions. Tarle quotes a contemporary of the events of the Crimean War: “In the Russian army, which stood in Estland in 1854-1855 and was not in contact with the enemy, hunger typhus, which appeared among the soldiers, caused great devastation, as the commanders stole and left the rank and file to starve to death.” In no other European army was the situation so dire. Nicholas I knew about the scale of this disaster, but he could not do anything about the situation. So, he was stunned by the case of the director of the office of the disabled fund Politkovsky, who stole more than a million rubles from the budget. The scale of corruption during the Crimean War was such that Russia managed to restore the treasury deficit only 14 years after the signing of the Paris Treaty.

The backwardness of the army

One of the fatal factors in the defeat of the Russian Empire in the Crimean War was the backwardness of the weapons of our army. It manifested itself as early as September 8, 1854 during the battle on the Alma River: the Russian infantry was armed with smooth-bore guns with a firing range of 120 meters, while the British and French had rifled fittings with a firing range of up to 400 meters. In addition, the Russian army was armed with guns with various calibers: 6-12-pound field guns, 12-24-pound and pound siege unicorns, 6,12,18,24 and 36-pound bomb guns. Such a number of calibers greatly complicated the supply of ammunition to the army. Finally, Russia had practically no steam ships, and sailing ships had to be sunk at the entrance to the Sevastopol Bay, which was obviously an extreme measure to deter the enemy.

Negative image of Russia

During the reign of Nicholas I, the Russian Empire began to claim the title of "gendarme of Europe." In 1826-1828, the Erivan and Nakhichevan khanates went to Russia, the next year, after the war with Turkey, the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the mouth of the Danube were annexed to Russia. The advance of Russia in Central Asia also continued. By 1853, the Russians came close to the Syr Darya.

Russia defended itself on several fronts - in the Crimea, Georgia, the Caucasus, Sveaborg, Kronstadt, Solovki and the Kamchatka front. In fact, Russia fought alone, on our side were insignificant Bulgarian forces (3000 soldiers) and the Greek Legion (800 people). Having set everyone against herself, showing insatiable ambitions, in fact Russia did not have the power reserve to resist England and France. During the Crimean War in Russia there was still no concept of propaganda, while the British used their propaganda machine with might and main to inject a negative image of the Russian army.

Failure of diplomacy

The Crimean War showed not only the weakness of the Russian army, but also the weakness of diplomacy. The peace treaty was signed on March 30, 1856 in Paris at an international congress with the participation of all the warring powers, as well as Austria and Prussia. The peace conditions were frankly unfavorable for Russia. Under the terms of the agreement, Russia returned Kars to Turkey in exchange for Sevastopol, Balaklava and other cities in the Crimea, captured by the allies; conceded to the Moldavian Principality the mouth of the Danube and part of Southern Bessarabia. The Black Sea was declared neutral, but Russia and Turkey could not keep a navy there. Russia and Turkey could only maintain 6 steam ships of 800 tons each and 4 ships of 200 tons each for guard duty.

The autonomy of Serbia and the Danubian Principalities was confirmed, but the Turkish Sultan's supreme power over them was preserved. The previously adopted provisions of the London Convention of 1841 on the closure of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles for military vessels of all countries except Turkey were confirmed. Russia pledged not to build military fortifications on the Aland Islands and in the Baltic Sea. The patronage of the Turkish Christians was transferred into the hands of the "concern" of all the great powers, that is, England, France, Austria, Prussia and Russia. Finally, the treaty deprived our country of the right to protect the interests of the Orthodox population in the territory of the Ottoman Empire.

Ignorance of Nicholas I

Many historians associate the main reason for the defeat in the Crimean War with the figure of Emperor Nicholas I. Thus, the Russian historian Tarle wrote: “As for his weaknesses as the head of the empire’s foreign policy, one of the main ones was his deep, truly impenetrable, comprehensive, if possible so to speak, ignorance”. The Russian emperor did not know life in Russia at all, he valued cane discipline, and any manifestation of independent thinking was suppressed by him. Fyodor Tyutchev wrote about Nicholas I as follows: “In order to create such a hopeless situation, the monstrous stupidity of this unfortunate man was needed, who during his thirty-year reign, being constantly in the most favorable conditions, did not take advantage of anything and missed everything, managing to start a fight under the most impossible circumstances." Thus, it can be said that the Crimean War, which turned out to be a disaster for Russia, was caused by the personal ambitions of the emperor, who was prone to adventures and seeking to maximize the boundaries of his power.

Shepherd's ambition

Crimean War 1853-1856 Causes of war, causes of defeat, terms of the Paris Peace Treaty

Russia's participation in the Crimean War was due to Russia's geopolitical interests.

By the middle of the XIX century. Russia was pushed out of the markets of the Middle East ka England and France, who subjugated Turkey to their influence. The Russian monarchy did not want to lose its advantages gained in the victorious wars with Turkey in 1735-1739, 1768-1774, 1787-1791, 1806-1812, 1828-1829. In these wars, Russia secured Southern Ukraine, Crimea, Bessarabia, and the Caucasus. Russia mastered the Black Sea lands. As a result of the successes of Russian weapons, the autonomy of Serbia was ensured in 1829, the power of the Sultan over Moldavia and Wallachia was limited, and in 1830 the independence of Greece was proclaimed.

In the first half of the 19th century, there was weakening of the Ottoman Empire. Russia sought

To the division of the Ottoman Empire,

Creation of independent states in South-Eastern Europe

Achieve a protectorate over the Danubian Principalities

Establish control over the Black Sea straits

Strengthen the country's influence in Europe

Secure the Russian Black Sea coast

Do not let someone else's fleet into the Black Sea.

In the middle of XIX. intensified struggle for spheres of influence in the Balkan Peninsula and the Middle East.

Britain - n Russia's most powerful rival. Britannia

Feared the strengthening of Russia

Seeked to limit Russia's influence in Europe,

It sought to oust Russia from the Balkans.

England was not interested in dividing the Ottoman Empire, because she hoped to put it under her financial, political, economic control

England hatched plans for the military defeat of Russia in order to achieve its own conquest goals in the Middle East.

London drew closer to Paris, and in the future, these powers acted jointly on the Eastern question.

France announced the Russian threat in the Middle East. Palmerston, Prime Minister of England, declared that the aim of England's policy in the Middle East was to resist the despotic Eastern governments.

Austria. Hostile position in relation to the eastern claims of Nicholas I took Austria

She could not come to terms with the transition of the Balkan Peninsula under the economic and political control of Russia. Austria itself sought to bring the Balkan peoples under its control.

There was a deep antagonism between Russia and Austria in the Eastern question

Nicholas I, after the suppression of the Hungarian revolution by Russian troops in 1849, believed that the Habsburg monarchy owed its salvation to Russia. He considered Austria his reliable ally in Europe and the Balkans. Nicholas I was mistaken in his assessment of the position of Austria.

Prussia was not yet interested in the Eastern question and preferred to evade European disputes over the Ottoman Empire. In the struggle between England and Russia, Prussia could not play the role of a reliable and active ally of Russia.

Nicholas I made a number of serious diplomatic miscalculations, incorrectly defining the interests of England, France, and Austria. He was sure that they would not interfere in the military conflict between Russia and Turkey. In fact, these countries were interested in weakening Russia's influence on the solution of European problems.

Russia suffered defeat in the Crimean War. Main reasons steel damage:

Russia's military-economic lag behind England and France;

Excessive centralization of government; low efficiency of the bureaucracy; among the ministers at that time mediocre and irresponsible persons prevailed. Embezzlement reigned at all levels. The army was supplied ugly: the soldiers were half-starved, and in Sevastopol the army and the population were starving; the quartermasters plundered everything that could be appropriated.

The low level of military art of the Russian command; among the senior officers, persons who held positions by seniority or patronage predominated, they did not have military talents, and were poor strategists. This applies to Gorchakov, Menshikov, Paskevich. The command made strategic and tactical mistakes. Minister of War V.A. Dolgorukov (1852-1856), preoccupied with his career, misinformed Nicholas I, falsified data on the position of the Russian army and its combat readiness.

The officers were afraid to take the initiative and act according to the situation;

The army lacked modern weapons. In the 1840s, new types of artillery pieces were developed, but they were not taken into service. The War Department hampered the introduction of new technology. Most of the guns were old. The army was armed with smooth-bore guns, which were inferior in range (120-150 m) to rifled guns (fitting) (800 m), which were in service with the British and French armies. Rifled guns in the Russian army accounted for 4.6% of all guns. The Black Sea Fleet was sailing, while England and France had a steam-powered navy. The reasons for the military-technical weakness were the economic backwardness of Russia.

Bad communications. The delivery of military supplies on dirt roads was slow. In spring and autumn, it was impossible to drive along these roads. England and France, having entered the war in 1854, laid railway from Balaklava, the landing site of their troops, to Sevastopol. In Russia there was not a single railway connecting the central provinces with the Black Sea coast. The Crimean army was left without rear support. In the Crimea, Sevastopol, there were not enough hospitals, doctors, medicines. Mortality among the wounded was very high.

Target it is to deprive Russia of its exclusive position and dominant influence in the East. To this end

The Ottoman Empire was recognized as equal with other European states in international relations

Russia lost the right to patronize the Orthodox peoples of the Balkan Peninsula

The Allies returned their conquests in the Crimea, and Russia returned its conquests in the Caucasus to Turkey

Russia ceded the mouth of the Danube and the southern part of Bessarabia, which was annexed to the Principality of Moldavia

Russia, together with Turkey, was deprived of the right to keep a navy in the Black Sea

Both powers undertook to destroy the naval arsenals on the shores of the Black Sea and not to keep other warships in this sea, except for six steam and four light ships. The Black Sea was declared neutral. Access to its waters was forbidden to the military courts of all powers.

The Bosporus and Dardanelles were declared closed to all warships in peacetime. In case of war, Turkey could bring its squadron into the Black Sea. She could be accompanied by warships of Western European countries. The Black Sea straits were controlled by Turkey.

Peace conditions were not beneficial for Russia. Russian influence in the Middle East and the Balkans was undermined. The international prestige of Russia has decreased. The most important consequence of the war was the reforms of the 1960s and 1970s.

Russian society It was outraged by the defeats Russian army. The defeats offended the national feelings of the Russian people. WITH. M. Solovyov wrote: "We painfully accepted the information about the defeats of Russia, knowing that the news of the victories would lead us to the abyss." The intelligentsia believed that defeats would force the government to reform. Thinking people believed that Russia's victory in the war would strengthen the Nikolaev political system. The Russian people rooted for their homeland with their hearts, but they understood that the defeats would force the authorities to think about the question of their causes and understand that Russia had lagged behind.

from Western European countries. The Crimean War summed up the previous version of development and showed the need for change. The thinking part of society demanded freedom of speech, the abolition of serfdom, the development of education, and judicial reform.

Russia's defeat in the war forced AlexandraII think about causes of injury and spend reforms. Society demanded expand freedom of speech. Even conservatives understood that reforms were needed. Pogodin, who previously supported the ideas of Uvarov, after the death of Nicholas I spoke about freedom of speech. Everyone is tired of administrative and police arbitrariness.

the aggravation of the "Eastern Question", i.e., the struggle of the leading countries for the division of the "Turkish heritage";
the growth of the national liberation movement in the Balkans, the acute internal crisis in Turkey and the conviction of Nicholas I of the inevitability of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire;
the miscalculations of the diplomacy of Nicholas 1, which manifested itself in the hope that Austria, in gratitude for its salvation in 1848-1849, would support Russia, it would be possible to agree with England on the division of Turkey; as well as disbelief in the possibility of an agreement between the eternal enemies - England and France, directed against Russia, "
the desire of England, France, Austria and Prussia to oust Russia from the East, the desire to prevent its penetration into the Balkans

The reason for the Crimean war of 1853-1856:

The dispute between the Orthodox and Catholic churches for the right to control Christian shrines in Palestine. Per Orthodox Church was Russia, and behind the Catholic - France.

Stages of military operations of the Crimean War:

1. Russian-Turkish war (May - December 1853). After the Turkish Sultan rejected the ultimatum on granting the Russian Tsar the right to patronize the Orthodox subjects of the Ottoman Empire, the Russian army occupied Moldavia, Wallachia and up to the Danube. The Caucasian Corps went on the offensive. The Black Sea squadron achieved great success, which in November 1853 under the command of Pavel Nakhimov destroyed the Turkish fleet in the battle of Sinop.

2. The beginning of the war between Russia and a coalition of European countries (spring - summer 1854). the threat of defeat looming over Turkey prompted European countries to take active anti-Russian actions, which led from a local war to a pan-European war.

March. England and France took the side of Turkey (Sardinian). Allied squadrons fired on Russian troops; fortification on the Alan Islands in the Baltic, on the Solovki, in the White Sea, on the Kola Peninsula, in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Odessa, Nikolaev, Kerch. Austria, threatening Russia with war, moved troops to the borders of the Danubian principalities, which forced the Russian armies to leave Moldavia and Wallachia.

3. Defense of Sevastopol and the end of the war. In September 1854, the Anglo-French The army landed in the Crimea, which turned into the main "theater" of the war. This is the last stage of the Crimean War of 1853-1856.

The Russian army led by Menshikov was defeated on the river. Alma left Sevastopol defenseless. The defense of the sea fortress, after the flooding of the sailing fleet in the Sevastopol bay, was taken over by sailors led by Admirals Kornilov, Nakhimov Istomin (all died). In the first days of October 1854, the defense of the city began and was taken only on August 27, 1855.

In the Caucasus, successful actions in November 1855, the capture of the fortress of Kars. However, with the fall of Sevastopol, the outcome of the war was predetermined: March 1856. peace talks in Paris.

Terms of the Paris Peace Treaty (1856)

Russia was losing Southern Bessarabia with the mouth of the Danube, and Kars was returning to Turkey in exchange for Sevastopol.

Russia was deprived of the right to protect the Christians of the Ottoman Empire
The Black Sea was declared neutral and Russia lost the right to have a navy and fortifications there.
Established freedom of navigation on the Danube, which opened the Baltic Peninsula for Western powers

Causes of Russia's defeat in the Crimean War.

Economic and technical backwardness (weapons and transport support of the Russian armies)
The mediocrity of the Russian high ground command, which achieved ranks and titles through intrigue, flattery
Diplomatic miscalculations that led Russia to isolation in the war with the coalition of England, France, Turkey, with the hostile attitude of Austria, Prussia.
The apparent disparity of forces

Thus, the Crimean War of 1853-1856,

1) at the beginning of the reign of Nicholas 1, Russia managed to acquire a number of territories in the East and expand its spheres of influence

2) the suppression of the revolutionary movement in the West brought Russia the title of "gendarme of Europe", but did not meet its nat. interests

3) the defeat in the Crimean War revealed the backwardness of Russia; the rottenness of its autocratic-serf system. Found errors in foreign policy, the goals of which did not correspond to the capabilities of the country

4) this defeat became a decisive and direct factor in the preparation and implementation of the abolition of serfdom in Russia

5) the heroism and selflessness of Russian soldiers during the Crimean War remained in the memory of the people and influenced the development of the spiritual life of the country.