The Battle of Kars was a decisive Russian victory over the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). In June, 1877 Russian forces attempted a siege of Kars but were driven off by an Ottoman army at the Battle of Kizil-Tepe. In November the Russian commander in the Caucasus, Grand Duke Michael, demanded the surrender of Kars but was refused. The Grand Duke sent a force under Loris-Melikoff and Lazarev Ivan Davidovich to take the city by storm. On November 17 Loris-Melikoff attacked and succeeded in capturing the eastern fortifications and cutting off the garrison under Hussein Hami Pasha. Hussein attempted to cut his way out, but he and only a few others succeeded, as much of the Ottoman army was taken prisoner. The Treaty of San Stephano officially gave Kars to Russia and it