Assault on Vatikivi

Beginning of the Russo-Swedish War (1495–1497) In August 1495, the awaited Russian attack began, with the Russians burning and destroying the villages of Nykyrka, Mohla, and Kivinebb. The frightened villagers fled and flooded into Viborg, with the Russians chasing behind them. Russian advance towards Viborg When he received news of the advance, Bishop Magnus in Åbo bombarded Sten Sture with letters, with extreme exaggerations like that the Russians were preparing to send a fleet of 2,000 ships to Stockholm. Siege of Viborg On 21 September the first Russians appeared outside of Viborg and the city was quickly surrounded on all sides. Russian siege trebuchets threw massive boulders towards the wall, with the biggest one being able to throw meter long boulders, which destroyed the wooden defenses outside of the city. The bombardments struck fear in the defenders, being 1,800 troops == Assault ==

Preparations On 12 October Knut Posse made an attempt to break the siege, with the assault being decided to be directed towards Vatikivi during night time. Hartwig was able to save himself by swimming away from the shore and grabbing ahold of a rope thrown from one of the escaping boats. == Aftermath ==

After the defeat, Knut Posse moved to a full defence of Viborg, with the Russians assaulting the walls only a day later, but suffering heavy casualties in the process, and with the walls staying mostly unaffected. == References ==