Battle of Oryahovo

The Battle of Oryahovo was strategically important to the Russian and Romanian armies during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Its aim was to sever the communications line through north-western Bulgaria serving the Ottoman Western Army besieged at Pleven, thereby helping secure that town's capture.

Oryahovo's Ottoman garrison of 2,000 officers and men occupied the commanding heights and prepared a fierce defence.

The battle began on 7 November 1877 with both Romanian and Russian attacks. Russian units fought fiercely near the bridge over the River Ogosta and repelled enemy attacks, while Romanian troops approached from the Ottoman rear and entered the town.

On 9 November, after several days of intense fighting, the Russo-Romanian forces prevailed. Surviving Ottoman soldiers withdrew across a ford towards Lom.

The victory cut Ottoman communications, strengthened the blockade of Pleven and hastened the end of the war.