The Russian fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Vitgeft made an attempt to break the blockade and go to Vladivostok, but was intercepted and suffered heavy losses in the Yellow Sea . The remnants of the Russian squadron in Port Arthur were gradually flooded with fire besieging Port Arthur of the Japanese artillery. Attempts to break the blockade of Port Arthur from the land also failed, and after the Battle of Liaoyang in late August, Russian forces retreated to Mukden ( Shenyang ). Port Arthur, including the detachments of sailors formed from the crews of the submerged ships, fell on January 2, 1905, after several bloody storms.