December 22, 2025: Alexander Mirgorodsky, who is Foreign Relations Officer of Taganrog Local Government, translator and historian, the author of several historical monographs and articles, presented his new book at the Taganrog Chekhov Public Library on December 21.


The book entitled "Taganrog and Mariupol in the Crimean War" is dedicated to the 170th anniversary of the military activities in the northeastern Azov region: the defense of Taganrog, Mariupol and other settlements that were part of the Taganrog Gradonachalstvo (Borough). The book summarizes the author's extensive research on the events of 1855, complementing his previous works on the Azov campaign. The study is illustrated with archival plans, lithographs and engravings from the mid-19th century as well as historical and contemporary photography.


Following the capture of the strategically vital port of Kerch on May 25, 1855, a joint flotilla of 18 steam gunboats commanded by captains Edmund Mubray Lyons (Great Britain) and Marie Casimir Beral de Sedaiges (France) entered the inner part of Azov Sea. The allies destroyed Russian government stores along the coast in Berdiansk, Genitchesk, Arabat Bay and Mariupol. On June 3, 1855 the squadron bombarded the Russian port of Taganrog in order to destroy the provisions for besieged Sebastopol that were kept in government buildings. Although by mid-afternoon all the stores along the quay had been set ablaze, the town's garrison resisted the landing, not letting destruction to be spread further into downtown.

The book entitled "Taganrog and Mariupol in the Crimean War" is dedicated to the 170th anniversary of the military activities in the northeastern Azov region: the defense of Taganrog, Mariupol and other settlements that were part of the Taganrog Gradonachalstvo (Borough). The book summarizes the author's extensive research on the events of 1855, complementing his previous works on the Azov campaign. The study is illustrated with archival plans, lithographs and engravings from the mid-19th century as well as historical and contemporary photography.


Taganrog places great importance on its history, including its role in the Crimean War. A re-enactment festival "Defense of Taganrog in 1855" was held several times in the city's historic downtown area.