On 28 October their army in Vidin crossed the Danube and established itself at the village of Calafat, and started building fortifications.

Another army crossed the Danube at Ruse on 1-2 November in a feint attack to lure the Russians away from Calafat.

This operation was unsuccessful and they retreated on 12 November, but in the meantime Calafat's defenses and the communication with Vidin had been improved.

In response to these events, the Russians marched towards Calafat and unsuccessfully engaged the Turks at the end of December.

After January the Russians brought troops to the surroundings of Calafat and started the unsuccessful siege, which lasted 4 months; they withdrew on 21 April.