In February 1916, Nikolai Yudenich had taken the cities of Erzurum and Trabzon.

Trabzon had provided the Russians with a port to receive reinforcements in the Caucasus.

[3] Vehip's attack failed and General Yudenich counterattacked on July 2.

[3] The Russian attack hit the Turkish communications center of Erzincan forcing Vehip's troops to retreat as well as losing 34,000 men, half taken as POWs.

[3] As a result, the Third Army was rendered ineffective for the rest of the year and Erzincan was captured by the Russians.