In the 19th century, the Russian Empire led an active foreign policy in Southeastern Europe. The area had a big strategic importance, as it is the only Russian exit from the Black Sea through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to a warm sea in the European area. With the weakening of the Ottoman Empire, the European superpowers descended into a struggle for influence and territory in the area, sometimes striving to preserve the empire and other times debating its dismemberment, depending on their current interests. In these chaotic conditions, the Balkan nations of the Ottoman Empire tried to achieve first autonomy, and then the organization of independent states. This thesis focuses on the Russian Balkan policy, besides its general goals, tasks and circumstances, which are necessary to understand the events, it deals with its influence on the Slavic peoples of the Ottoman Empire and their achievement of national goals. The Russo-Ottoman wars are highlighted, during which lasting changes often occurred in Southeast Europe. The role of Russian diplomacy and military presence in key events during the fight for independence of the nations, for example the Serbian uprising or the Bulgarian rebellion, and other connections of the largest Slavic and Orthodox state, the Russian Empire with smaller Orthodox South Slavic nations - Serbs, Montenegrins and Bulgarians in the Ottoman Empire - are shown.
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