| Conflict: | Battle of Sich |
| Partof: | the Russo-Turkish War (1676–1681) and Turkish-Cossack Conflict |
| Place: | Zaporozhian Sich |
| Date: | June 1680 |
| Combatant1: | Zaporozhian Cossacks Don Cossacks |
| Combatant2: | Ottoman Empire Crimean Khanate |
| Result: | Cossack victory |
| Commander1: | Ivan Sirko |
| Commander2: | Kara-Muhammad |
| Strength1: | Unknown |
| Strength2: | 25,000 Unknown |
| Casualties1: | Unknown |
| Casualties2: | Unknown |
The Battle of Sich or Stand on the Sich took place between the Ottoman-Crimean army led by Pasha Kara-Muhammad and the Zaporozhian-Don Cossacks led by Ivan Sirko, on the Sich or Lobodukha tract between islands, in 1680.
In 1678, information about the planned Ottoman campaigns on Kyiv and Left-Bank Ukraine in the upcoming year became known to Tsardom of Russia and Samoylovych's Cossack Hetmanate.[1] [2] Ottomans made no attempts to capture Zaporozhian Sich in 1679.[3] However, Sultan Mehmed IV planned a campaign against Sich for 1680, gathering an Ottoman army of 25,000 led by Pasha Kara-Muhammad for this purpose.[4] [5]
Sultan Mehmed IV ordered for the 25,000-strong Ottoman army to launch a campaign against Sich in 1680.[4] Ivan Sirko received the news about the incoming Ottoman-Crimean army, and was preparing for the upcoming battle. Zaporozhian Cossacks of Ivan Sirko, together with Don Cossacks, organised defense of the Sich.[4] The Ottoman-Crimean army suffered a defeat to the Cossacks and was forced to retreat.[4]
In Ukrainian histography, this event was remembered as Ivan Sirko's last battle and victory, during which Sirko "lowered his victorious mace for the last time in the battle with the Horde".[4]
Sultan Mehmed IV sent the Ottoman army led by Pasha Kara-Muhammad with the goal of destroying Sich.[5] This news reached Ivan Sirko, but he didn't want to risk the destruction of Sich and chose to position with Cossacks on Lobodukha tract.[5] Ivan Sirko organised his defense on the Lobodukha tract between islands, preparing for battle with the Ottoman army. However, Pasha Kara-Muhammad received the news about the incoming Russian army led by Yakov Koretsky, coming to the aid of Ivan Sirko and his Cossacks.[5] Pasha Kara-Muhammad chose to retreat with his army before any major fighting took place.[5]
In Russian histography, this event is described as a standoff rather than full-fledged battle.
After Ivan Sirko's defense of the Sich and subsequent retreat of the Ottoman-Crimean army, he fell ill and retired to the village of Hrushivka.[4] Russians and Cossacks repelled the Ottoman-Crimean attacks that took place in 1679–1680, and on 3 January 1681, signed Treaty of Bakhchisarai, concluding the Russo-Turkish War.[6]