In 1773, Catherine the Great ordered for Pyotr Rumyantsev to march with his army onto Silistra to pressure the Ottoman Empire into peace.

[8] On 18 June, the 21,380-strong Russian army (other estimates give a figure as high as 50,000)[1] reinforced with 74 field guns, besieged Silistra.

Potemkin's force, composed of 1,206 grenadiers; Iosif Igelström's unit, made up of 1,039 musketeers; and Weismann's corps, consisting of cavalry from Kabardia and Shirvan, as well as a battalion under Lieutenant colonel Blücher fired on the redoubt.

In response, Rumyantsev began bombarding Silistra non-stop on 19 June with 74 field guns and numerous mortars, causing unabating fires to break out within the fortress.

During the battle, the Turks burst into a gap between the main Russian force and Potemkin's soldiers, putting Rumyantsev's life directly in danger.

Fortunately for him, Aleksey Stupishin [ru], who was marching to aid Rumyantsev, reached on time and repelled the Turkish attacks.

[16] In the six-hour battle on 18 June alone, German historian Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall claims that the Russians lost 8,000 men, whilst 1,000 were injured.

[17][18] As the Russians were withdrawing from Silistra via the Danube, Pyotr Rumyantsev sent Otto Weismann to deal with Numan Pasha's reinforcements.

[2] Defeating renowned general Rumyantsev earned Serasker Osman Pasha not only the title of Gazi, but also a sable fur coat, a symbol of this great achievement.

The Grand Vizier sent 4,000 silver medals, known as çelenk, and 3,000 feather (tüy) insignias to be distributed among the soldiers who defended Silistra.