Course of events
During the Russo-Bukharan war, the Shahrisyabz beks, formally dependent on the Bukhara khan, remained neutral. However, in 1868, after the defeat of the Bukhara troops by the Russian army on the Zerabulak Heights, the Shahrisyabz rulers Jurabek and Bababek suddenly besieged the Russian garrison in Samarkand. After the signing of the peace treaty [ ru ] between Russia and the Bukhara Khanate, the Shahrisyabz Bekstvo actually fell away from Bukhara. On the part of the Bekstvo, robber raids have become more frequent. The Emir of Bukhara, not having the strength to subjugate the rebellious Beks, asked for help from the Turkestan Governor-General Konstantin Kaufman. In August 1870, Kaufman sent General Abramov to seize the main cities of the Shahisyabz Bekstvo Kitab and Shaar, expel the rebellious rulers and hand over the city to the Bukhara Emir.
The Russian detachment left Samarkand in two columns: the right, Colonel Yakov Mikhailovsky [ ru ] (1 battalion, 2 hundred Cossacks, 10 guns and 6 rocket machines), came out on 7 August and in the 2nd transitions reached Jam; the left, Lieutenant Colonel Sokovnin (4 companies, ½ hundreds, 2 guns and 2 rocket launchers) moved on 9 August by the shortest road to Kitab, through the Kara-Tyubenskoye Gorge. By the evening of 11 August, both columns reached the gardens of Urus-Kishlak, 2.5 versts away from the outer Shahrisyabz wall, and settled in position. The cities of Kitab and Shaar were surrounded by one common wall; then each of these cities had a special inner wall and a citadel.
On the morning of 12 August, the area was reconnaissed, after which it was decided to attack the fortress with two columns on both sides of the Rawatak gate. At night, Bresh-battery were erected, which opened fire on the morning of 13 August. The Shahrisyabz residents returned fire, fatally wounding Lieutenant Colonel Sokovnin. By the evening, the breach in the wall against Mikhailovsky's column was ready, but it was not possible to break through the wall from Sokovnin's battery. Abramov decided to storm the wall with Mikhailovsky's column, and only demonstrate the other. With the onset of night, Mikhailovsky's column was reinforced with 2 companies and 1 gun and the assault was scheduled for 3½ hours in the morning.
Mikhailovsky had to storm the breach and after occupying it, head to the left, to the main road leading from the gate to Kitab, and then further to the citadel. Lieutenant Colonel Nikolai Raevsky [ ru ], who took Sokovnin's place, was ordered to occupy the wall with 1.5 companies after the cannonade only when Mikhailovsky's column entered the city. The latter reached the wall unnoticed in silence and, after a short hand-to-hand fight, took possession of it; then it moved to the main road. Having learned that Mikhailovsky had burst into the city, Abramov ordered the Prince to seize the gates of Rawatak, which was the latter, despite the enemy's rifle and artillery fire. Then, seeing that most of the wall was already occupied, Abramov ordered Raevsky to stop firing from the left battery, storm the section of the wall located opposite him. After 15 minutes, the wall was occupied here. After that, Raevsky moved to the gate of Ravatak and then along the main road to Kitab to connect with Mikhailovsky. Meanwhile, Mikhailovsky, having reached the square, stopped, lit the warehouses of hay around and decided to wait for the dawn. Then, having put the detachment in order, he went to the Kitab wall with 5 companies, 4 guns and 4 rocket launchers. At the gate, her squad was met with rifle fire. Shelling the gate and turrets protecting the gate with a cannon and grenades, Mikhailovsky ordered to attack the wall. One of the mouths climbed over it under fire and opened the gate. Having then entered the Kitab, the detachment met no more resistance on its way to the citadel. It was all over at 8 a.m. Due to the fatigue of the troops, the movement to Shaar was postponed the next day, although with the occupation of Kitab, this city sent a deputation with an expression of submission.
The rebellious bekis Jurabek and Bababek fled to Kokand, but were soon extradited by the Kokand Khan to the Russian government. The losses of the Russian troops during the assault amounted to 34 killed and 119 wounded, the losses of the Shahrisyabz people were killed only up to 600 people. Having surrendered the cities to the beks sent by the Emir of Bukhara, the Russian troops returned to Samarkand on 26 August.
Russian Empire 
Emirate of Bukhara