Thus, Senyavin was made responsible for re-establishing the Don Military Flotilla, which was supposed to interoperate with the Russian ground forces along the Crimean coastline.

Senyavin had to come up with a certain type of ships, which could navigate in shallow waters and meet combat requirements, at the same time.

Alexei Senyavin managed to build a flotilla by 1771 and then sent it to Taganrog to assist the Russian troops in occupying the Crimea.

Owing in large part to the actions of the Don Military Flotilla under Senyavin's command, Russia signed a favourable Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca with Turkey, regaining Azov and Taganrog and gaining Kerch and Yenikale.

Thus, Catherine II made Peter the Great's dream a reality – Russia finally got its first direct access to the Black Sea.