Battle of Zieleńce The Battle of Zieleńce was a battle in the Polish – Russian War of 1792 , in defence of the Polish Constitution of 3 May 1791 . The battle took place on 18 June 1792 , between the Polish - Lithuanian Commonwealth Army of Józef Poniatowski and a Imperial Russian Army group under the command of General Irakly Morkov , which was a part of General Mikhail Krechetnikov Russian forces invading the Polish - Lithuanian Commonwealth from the south . The battle ended in Polish victory , as the Russian assault was repulsed , although the Poles soon withdrew from the battlefield . Prelude . Polish forces have been retreating for several weeks , avoiding a decisive engagement with the numerically superior Russian forces . On 15 June , the joined Polish forces reached Połonne . After a meeting , the Polish commanders decided to withdraw because they did not have the possibility of defending a town that did not have fortifications . On 17 June Polish commander , Prince Józef Poniatowski , received information in Szepietówka that the Lubomirski division was now camped in Zasław . He ordered the Lubomirski division to join his forces near Zieleńce . Lubomirski had about 2000 infantry and 1000 cavalry , including units of general Józef Zajączek and Ludwik Trokin . His formation secured a hill situated on the north on the road from Połonne to Zasław which dominated the area . Infantry taking position in centre wings were secured by cavalry . In the early morning of 18 June , a Russian group under command of General Irakly Morkov was observed . This group was front watch of larger corps of General Mikhail Golenishchev - Kutuzov . The order of this group was to attack the Polish army left wing and destroy the rest of train . With a force about 10 , 500 . - 11 , 500s soldiers and 24 cannons ( 2 infantry regiments of about 6000 soldiers , three regiments of line cavalry of 2500 soldiers , and a Cossack brigade under command of Orlov ) , the Russian formations took positions in a valley below a hill . Their order of battle was the same as Polish , except that one battalion was a reserve and the second to secure the train . Meanwhile , General Zajączek contacted Poniatowski for help . Battle . Opening moves . The battle began with artillery fire and cavalry clashes . About 7 a . m . , Markow wanted to begin to attack but changed his orders when he saw that Polish formations under Poniatowski had moved onto the battle field . Poniatowski forces included two infantry battalions , a cavalry regiment of front guard from Prince Józef Lubomirski , Brigade National Cavalry under command of Stanisław Mokronowski , a division under command of General Wielhorski , and 12 cannons . Kościuszko with his division had to stay in the rear in order to prevent an attack from Levanidov and Dunin corps . Poniatowski sent the Mokronowski brigade on right wing . He backed the artillery . The battalion of infantry regiment of Potocki was in reserve . The division of Wielhorski took position within the forest as second throw . Russian advance . After a few hours , the Polish and Russian artillery quieted . Within 12 hours with Russian - backed artillery fire , the infantry began advancing onto the Polish centre . Under mass artillery fire and a Russian attack , panic was induced among the Polish recruits who began escaping . After some time , Józef Poniatowski reviewed the Polish position . He organised a new battalion from the Potocki regiment and with support of battalion ordnance Ostrogoski began a counterattack . Russian infantry under fire of artillery and a Polish counterattack began withdrawal incurring heavy losses . Meanwhile , another Russian infantry unit secured the village of Zieleńce and opened fire on Polish formations . Poniatowski sent a formation of cavalry , but failed . After the village was set on fire , the Russians withdrew . Meanwhile , the Russians moved artillery fire onto Polish right wing on cavalry . The soldiers felt panic . At that moment , Cossacks began a charge . At beginning , that charge was stopped by field squadrons of Mokronowski brigade cavalry , but in formation of regiment buławy koronnej panic ensued the rear squadrons of Mokronowski brigade . The panic of the Polish cavalry was stopped by Sanguszko and other officers . After reorganisation , Polish cavalry with support of part Lubowidzki cavalry brigade from second line began a countercharge . During this charge , the Polish cavalry destroyed the Russian cavalry and began to rally . Poniatowski sent an order to support the rally to Czapski commander of second line cavalry right wing . Czapski refused to obey because the order was not written . In truth of the matter of his decision was that he was follower of the pro - Russian Targowica Confederation . During this time , a Russian regiment of grenadiers from Ekatierinoslav attacked Polish left wing . Poniatowski sent battalions from Potocki and Malczewski regiments . After decimating grenadiers under artillery and rifle fire , the Russians advance collapsed . Polish advance . After collapsing the Russian advance , Poniatowski organised an attack group from division Wielhorski units . This group contained three infantry battalions from regiments Potocki , Malczewski and ordnance ostrogocka , Brigade National Cavalry under command of Dzierżek , and regiment front watch under command of Józef Lubomirski . The group had to attack the Russian right wing . Morkov , who watched the preparations , concentrated most of his formation against the group . Polish cavalry successfully fought the Russian cavalry and forced them to withdrawal . But when Wielhorski met the enemy infantry , he stopped the advance because his infantry was weaker than the Russians and inexperienced . About 5 p . m . Morkov , who did not get relief from Kutuzov , withdrew . Aftermath . The victorious Polish army stayed on battlefield until evening and , thereafter , withdrew to Zasław . It was a tactical victory , without much strategic implications . Polish losses were significant ; soldiers lacked ammunition and food ; Derdej compares it to a Pyrrhic victory . After Polish withdrawal , Morkov moved onto the battlefield and announced himself the victor . Nonetheless , modern historians classify this battle as a Polish victory . The Russians nonetheless sustained heavier losses , and were significantly delayed in their pursuit of the Polish forces . The captured Russian banner was sent to Warsaw . To commemorate this victory , Polish king Stanisław August Poniatowski created the order of " Virtuti Militari " and awarded it to a number of Polish commanders participating in that battle . Some contemporary Polish leaders , like Kościuszko and Zajączek , felt that Poniatowski should ' ve pursued the Russians more aggressively , but Derdej justifies his decision noting the exhaustion and low supplies of Polish forces .