peter the great led the azov campaigns of 1695–96. the military expedition advanced by land and water (the rivers of voronezh, volga and don). the first attempt to storm the azov fortress under the command of general admiral franz lefort was undertaken on 5 august 1695. it was not successful. the russian army succeeded in occupying the watchtowers only. the number of dead and wounded russian soldiers reached over 1500 during the storming. the second storming of the azov fortress was undertaken on 25 september. the lifeguard preobrazhensky regiment and semyonovsky regiment under fyodor apraksin occupied most of the fortifications and were able to enter the town. however turks had time to regroup and apraksin's advance failed without support of other army units. the siege was lifted on 2 october.