What was the result of the Russo-Polish War

The Russo-Polish war began after the announcement of Ukraine's accession to Russia. King of Poland Jan Kazimir could not allow such an increase in Russia at his own expense. But in the summer of 1654 the Russian army entered the territory of Poland and reached eastern Belorussia. The pillar of Polish defense - Smolensk - was stormed on September 23.

The Poles attempted a counter-offensive in the Ukrainian direction, but it failed. The Russian-Polish war of 1654 began on the whole successfully for Russia. During the year, Russian troops captured Minsk, Vilna, occupied almost entirely the territory of the Lithuanian principality. Also, Poland's position was greatly shaken by the war with Sweden. The troops of Charles X of Gustav quickly occupied almost the entire European part of the Commonwealth. In response to the actions of the Swedish king, Russia declared war on Sweden. The failed campaign to seize Riga actually forced the Russian government to a truce, the Polish-Russian war temporarily stopped.

The death of Hetman Bogdan Khmelnitsky led to his closest supporter Ivan Vygovsky. He, in turn, concluded with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth the treaty, according to which Ukraine passed under the protectorate of Poland. Ian Kazimir made very significant concessions. He called the Cossack sergeant-major with the Polish nobility, allowed to preserve the originality of Cossack culture. The need for Ukrainian sabers under their banners forced the Polish king to agree to Vygovsky's demands. The Russian-Polish war broke out with renewed vigor.

Seeking to improve the situation in Ukraine, Russia sends an army there under the command of Aleksey Trubetskoy, as well as Semyon Pozharsky. Until the end of May, Russian troops took the fortress Borzna and besieged Konotop, the garrison of which was commanded by Colonel Gulyanitsky. During the siege, a high superiority of Polish armament over obsolete Russian peeps was revealed. Muskets of Ukrainian shooters beat further and more accurately. On the last day of May, a battle took place between the army of Prince Romodanovsky and the detachment of Hetman Skorobogatenko, who joined forces with the Crimean Tatars. But all the same, the allies were defeated, and the hetman himself was taken prisoner.

1.06.1659 The Gadyachsky Treaty was approved by the Polish Sejm. Vyhovsky by that time had already assembled a huge army, consisting of mercenaries, Cossacks and Crimean Tatars. The total number of the grouping of troops was about 50 thousand people. The united army marched on Konotop. Unlike Trubetskoy, Vygovsky was well aware of the strength and composition of the Russian army. They decided to lure the Russian troops to a swampy area, and then crush them with a sudden blow to the cavalry.

7.07.1659 the army of Trubetskoi was attacked, the surprise of the blow allowed to capture a large number of horses. The next morning all the cavalry of the Russians struck a small detachment of Cossacks. The horsemen, having crossed Sosnovka, chased the Cossacks. The remaining infantrymen were also trapped in a feigned retreat. Meanwhile, the camp left unattended was captured by the Cossacks of his brother, besieged in Konotop, Colonel Gulyanitsky. Russian troops were competently surrounded and almost completely exterminated or taken prisoner.

Victory in the Ukrainian land could not heal the state as a whole. Poland was already one of the most lagging countries in Europe. The royal power could not ensure the security of its vassals, and the Ukrainian-Polish union collapsed as quickly as the Russian-Ukrainian one.

As a result, Ukraine was divided into two camps. The one on the left side of the Dnieper almost swore allegiance to the Russian Tsar. Returned and the Russian army, hetman was chosen son of Bogdan Khmelnitsky - Yuri.

Until 1667 the Russo-Polish War continued. The two great powers were so exhausted that they had to stop, only fully aware of the growing threat from Turkey. On 30 January, a truce was signed, which meant the end of the Russo-Polish war. According to the agreement, Russia received Chernigov and Smolensk territory, as well as the left-bank part of Ukraine. Zaporizhia was under the protectorate of both countries, and Kiev became a temporary territory of Russia, which, after the conclusion of the "Eternal Peace", completely passed under Russian control. The Russo-Polish war led to the complete weakening of Poland. The country was devastated, and in 1815 was annexed to the Russian Empire.