In the autumn of 1870, unrest began among local Kazakhs in Mangyshlak, a detachment of 40 Cossacks marched into the steppe, due to command errors and the large number of rebels, the detachment completely annihilated, and the rebels began to plunder the territory in the district, their main goal was Fort Alexandrovsky.

[3] Before the assault, the rebels planned to deceive the garrison, and claimed that they had the entire Rukin detachment in captivity and that they were ready to let the prisoners and the garrison go home if he surrendered, Zelenin already knew about the fate of his colleague and in order to offend biya, he sent a poor Kazakh on a half-dead horse to him in response, this was successful and Isa began to prepare for the assault.

[5] On April 6, the general assault began, the garrison had a limited supply of ammunition, but the commandant of the fort ordered increased fire to inspire the rebels that the city had the strength to defend itself.

This had its success, the assault was repulsed,[4] but the rebels moved their attacks to the commanding heights near the fort, a sortie with cannon was sent there and the Russians won.

[5] On April 9, a weak attack was made, which the garrison easily repulsed, On the same day, reinforcements arrived and after several skirmishes, the rebels lifted the siege and retreated to the steppe.