On the night of June 4, General Alexei Kaledin opened an artillery barrage against Archduke Joseph Ferdinand's Austro-Hungarian defenses.

Lasting through the night and into the morning, the Russian artillery broke gaps through the barbed wire trenches.

The influential German high-command requested the dismissal of Archduke Joseph, which was subsequently granted.

The success of the Russian breakthrough caused Austria to halt its attacks in Italy and convinced Romania to enter the war.

[2] The Brusilov Offensive would continue with success until running out of steam in late September 1916.