In 1551, Sahib I Giray refused a Turkish order to fight in Persia, leading to his replacement by Devlet.

Learning that the Muscovite army was absent, Devlet made the strategic decision to attack, ensuring an easy victory while securing Kazan.

Although Devlet decided to retreat, his men were unwilling to return empty-handed, and he was forced to lay siege to Tula on 21 June.

In the spring of 1554, Ivan sent 33,000 soldiers down the Volga, expelled Yamghurchi, and appointed Dervish Ali Astrakhani in his place.

Meanwhile, in the steppe, Ismail had a conflict with his elder brother, Yusuf Bey, who was the father of the unfortunate Söyembikä of Kazan.

Ismail sought the support of the Turks, but the Sultan referred the matter to the Crimeans who were in charge of steppe affairs.

Devlet refused, prompting Ismail to approach Moscow and propose a joint attack on Astrakhan to place his protégé, Dervish Ali, on the throne.

Ismail's cavalry was to rendezvous with Russian ships on the Volga, but he failed to appear due to a battle with his brother Yusuf.

Kazi-Mirza united those who opposed the pro-Russian family conflict and formed the Small Nogai Horde, a close ally of Crimea, in the Kuban region.

In the spring of 1555, Devlet led an army into the North Caucasus to deal with some Circassians who had defected to the Russians.

Ivan strengthened the Oka bank line, while Devlet withdrew and met Sheremetev at Sudbishchi, about 150 km south of Tula.

In January 1558, he sent his eldest son Kalga Mehmed Geray with 100,000 soldiers to attack Tula, Ryazan, and Kashira.

In the spring of 1563, Devlet's sons Mehmed and Adil led raids in Dedilov, Pronsk, and Ryazan.

After the Astrakhan campaign of 1569, Devlet's sons Mehmed and Adil Geray devastated the regions around Ryazan and Kashira in the spring of 1570.

In 1556, Devlet led his army into Circassia, but quickly turned back when he discovered that pro-Russian Cossacks were descending the Dnieper and Don rivers.

At the same time, 8,000 Russians under Adashev went down the Dnieper, raided the west coast of Crimea, plundered villages, and freed many prisoners from Russia and Lithuania.

Invasions by Circassians crossed the Kerch Strait into Crimea, but Devlet defeated them and captured their leaders.

Kasim initially planned to leave, but after hearing rumors of available ships on the Volga, he crossed the steppe and ventured into Astrakhan.

Despite the possibility of waiting for supplies to arrive in the spring, the troops had only enough food to last for 40 days and became rebellious at the idea of spending the winter in tents on the steppe.

The Crimean and Nogai cavalry were moderately successful, but the infantry faced immense hardships on the arid steppe.

They promised to reveal to the Tatars an unguarded area along the Oka River and claimed that most of the Russian army was in Livonia.

A fire broke out in Moscow, and a strong wind aggravated it, resulting in the complete destruction of the wooden city, except for the Kremlin walls, within a few hours.

There was some discussion about diplomatic advantage after the unexpected victory, but Devlet decided to launch a decisive attack.

Devlet then stopped pursuing the enemy and instead redirected his large army to block the advancing Russians.

In the following years, Devlet's sons and several Crimean and Nogai mirzas conducted smaller raids on Muscovy.