The Poles tried to expel foreign forces in an uprising ( the Confederation of Bar , 1768 â `` 1772 ) , but the irregular and poorly commanded forces had litte chance in the face of the regular Russian army and suffered a defeat . Repnin also demanded religious freedom for the Protestant and Orthodox Christians , and the resulting reaction among some of Poland 's Roman Catholics , as well as the deep resentment of Russian intervention in the Commonwealth 's domestic affairs , led to the War of the Confederation of Bar from 1768 â `` 1772 , where the Poles tried to expel Russian forces from Commonwealth territory . The irregular and poorly commanded Polish forces had little chance in the face of the regular Russian army and suffered a major defeat .