On 24 April 1877, the Russian Empire formally declared war on the Ottoman Empire, launching the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78.
The conflict, rooted in pan-Slavic ambitions and the weakening grip of Ottoman authority in the Balkans, saw Russia align itself with Balkan nationalist movements such as those in Bulgaria and Serbia.
The war would ultimately reshape the political map of Southeastern Europe, contributing to the decline of Ottoman influence and the rise of new nation-states under Russian protection.
