 She was one of three ships to be struck by Japanese torpedoes during the surprise attack on Port Arthur during the night of 8 / 9 February 1904. Tsesarevich was hit abaft the portside torpedo bulkhead and the ship took on an 18°list that was partially corrected by counterflooding compartments on the starboard side. She got underway, but ran aground at the narrow harbor entrance. She was refloated and moved into the harbour for repairs that lasted until 7 June. Some of the ship's guns were removed during the summer to reinforce the defenses of the port. Tsesarevich lost a total of four 75-millimeter, two 47-millimeter and two 37-millimeter guns. The ship was hit twice on 7 August by Japanese 4.7-inch (120 mm) shells fired at long range; a fragment from one of them lightly wounded Vitgeft.
