Dimitriev's Russian Third Army was forced to suspend siege operations during Paul von Hindenburg's offensive against Warsaw in 1914.

After defeat at the battle of the Vistula River, Hindenburg and his Austrian allies retreated and Dimitriev resumed siege operations.

Selivanov halted the frontal assaults which had characterized earlier Russian attempts to subdue the fortress.

Defeat became inevitable for the defenders when Austrian relief efforts were turned back and Selivanov's Eleventh Army overran Przemyśl's northern defenses.

On April 5, 1915, Selivanov resigned from the army due to poor health and resumed his duties in the State Council.