It resulted from the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Empire and tsarist plans to resettle the Nogais to the Urals.

For almost 300 years the Nogais north of the Black Sea had been theoretically subject to the Crimean Khanate which in turn was a vassal of the Ottoman Turks.

A significant part of the Black Sea Nogais (Yedisan, Edishkul, Dzhemboyluk) chose to migrate across the Kuban River, not wishing to be Russian subjects.

On June 28, 1783, the Kuban and Black Sea Nogai Mirzas took the oath of loyalty to Russia near Yeysk at the mouth of the Yeya River.

The resettlement began under the escort of Russian and Cossack troops, who blocked all the fords and crossings of the Yeya River.

At dawn on August 1, the rebels (7–10 thousand men) attacked the post at the confluence of the Orak Yylgasa (Uray-Ilgasa) and Yeya rivers,[a] where part of the Butyrsky and Vladimir regiments were located,[5][6] commanded by Lieutenant Zhidkov.

Learning that from the Azov Sea (sic) a large group of Nogai horsemen was moving to the aid of assailants, I. M. Leshkevich withdrew his units from the fortress and dispersed the attackers with cannon.

As a result, the majority of mirzas offered obedience to Suvorov and finally recognized the accession of the Crimea and the Nogai lands to the Russian Empire.

According to figures provided by some Nogai organizations, several tens of thousands of people, including women and children, were killed during the suppression of the uprising.