Bombardment of the Solovetsky Monastery

18–19 July 1854, Solovetsky Islands, White Sea

Russian success; the monastery refused to surrender

Two British warships sent to blockade the White Sea arrived off the fortified Solovetsky Monastery and demanded its surrender. The monks and a few invalid soldiers refused, and Brisk and Miranda bombarded the walls for nine hours with little effect before sailing away. In Russia the defence of the monastery became a celebrated patriotic legend. Miranda went on to burn the town of Kola in August.

Solovetsky Monastery

No ships engaged

Forts, batteries and aircraft	Strength	Outcome
Monastery walls and a few old guns Defended by the monks, pilgrims and a small detachment of invalid soldiers.	Not recorded	Refused to surrender

Forts, batteries and aircraft

Strength

Outcome

Monastery walls and a few old guns

Defended by the monks, pilgrims and a small detachment of invalid soldiers.

Not recorded

Refused to surrender

Royal Navy

2 ships, none lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
HMS Brisk	Sloop	Survived
HMS Miranda	Corvette	Survived

Map

Into the White Sea June – August 1854