The siege of Ak-Mechet[a] (2–28 July 1853) was one of the first major engagements of the Russo-Kokand war [ru], fought between the Russian Empire and the Khanate of Kokand.

The city was an important northern base for the Kokand Khanate, and was placed next to the defensible Syr Darya river.

The capture of the fort greatly destabilized the Kokand Khanate, who would continue to send raiding and siege parties for over a decade.

The cities capture represented the first enemy fort Russia took during their conquest of Central Asia, and a seminal point in the Russification of the region Initially built in 1820,[1] Ak-Mechet was the Kokand Khanate's most influential and critical northern stronghold.

[4] An early proposal to attack the fort was raised in a letter dated March 17, 1851 by Governor-General of Orenburg Vladimir Obruchev [ru] as part of a larger plan to counter British advances into Afghanistan.

[b] Upon arrival to Ak-Mechet in July, Blaramberg discovered that the fort's commander Yakub Beg was absent, and subsequently ordered an attack.

[9] After the failure, Vasily Perovsky began to organize a second expedition in hopes of successfully capturing the fort, and avoid a loss in prestige.

[14] In January 1853, Perovsky proposed a plan to war minister Vasily Andreyevich Dolgorukov to build four fortresses at high expense on the right bank of the Syr-Darya,[c] one of which would be constructed over Ak-Mechet.

Perovsky claimed that this could bring fiscal and strategic benefits, though the former was unlikely and possibly mentioned to play down the high costs of the construction and expedition.

Tsar Nicholas strongly endorsed the plan, due in part to his positive relations with Perovsky, and it was approved by Dolgorukov.

[16] Perovsky spent spring preparing for the expedition in Fort Raim, hoping to avoid the logistical errors that had caused the failures of the Khivan campaign of 1839 and Blaramburg's attack.

Soldiers were gathered from forts across the region, including Orenburg, Orsk, Uralsk, and Aralsk, before rendezvousing at Karabutak [ru].

Those who fell ill or became tired during the march to Karabutak were left at the next fort to increase the average fighting strength of the army, and reduce logistical drain.

[19] The march to Ak-Mechet was difficult, comprising primarily barren terrain with large swarms of mosquitos and horse-flies,[12] and heat reaching 120.2 °F (49.0 °C).

[22] On July 18, Perovsky sent a letter to Abd al-Wali, demanding surrender and stating: Ak-Mechet is already taken, although you are inside it, and you cannot fail to perceive that without losing any of my men, I am in a position to destroy every one of you.

Kalmyks in the expedition took to openly walking in between trenches while in the Kokandi line of fire, and stealing watermelons from the gardens outside the fortress walls.

[22] On July 21, Perovsky dispatched a small force of 200 Cossacks and 50 Bashkirs to search the road to Tashkent for a rumored Kokandi reinforcement coming from the city.

Russian commanders raised multiple false alarms for the assault to tire the Kokandi defenders and lower their guard.

Russian forces, who had been withdrawn 1,800 feet (550 m) from the fort for safety, were not able to rush the breach before Kokandi soldiers filled the gap.