Battle of Elena

The Battle of Elena was the Ottoman Central Army's final offensive operation in the Russo-Turkish War. Preparing to cross the Balkan Mountains, Russian forces had captured the lightly defended town on 30 June 1877.

On 22 November 1877, Süleyman Pasha decided to attack Elena to draw Russian forces away from Pleven. Although greatly outnumbered, Russian troops under Major General Pavel Dombrovsky withstood the assault through determined defence.

After the Ottoman surrender at Pleven on 28 November/10 December 1877, Süleyman Pasha withdrew from Elena. The town returned to Russian hands, but the Ottomans had set it on fire before leaving.

The battle ended in Russian success and marked the failure of the last Ottoman attempt to relieve the Western Army at Pleven.