The siege of Ochakov (1737) was a siege during the Austro-Russian–Turkish War (1735–39) in which the Russian army, led by Burkhard Christoph von Münnich, captured the Ottoman fortress of Ochakov. It took place in 1737. The siege The first Russian attack was repelled with heavy losses, but as a result of Russian mortar fire, a fire broke out, and on the second day a powder magazine within the city blew up, killing around 6,000 defenders. The fortress quickly surrendered and in the ensuing slaughter, all but 3,000 of the garrison were killed. The stench of decaying corpses was such that the Russians had to withdraw 15 miles from the fortress. Notes References Sources Europe and the world, 1650–1830, Jeremy Black Conflicts in 1737 Ochakov (1737) Ochakov (1737) Military history of Ukraine 1737 in the Ottoman Empire 1737 in the Russian Empire 1730s in Ukraine Russo-Turkish War (1735–1739)