Editing Kerch (section)

===18th–20th centuries===
[[File:Kerch aivazovsky.jpg|thumb|''Kerch'' by [[Ivan Aivazovsky]], 1839]]

In response to the strengthening of [[Russian Empire|Russia]]n military forces in [[Sea of Azov|Azov]] area, the Turks built a fortress, named [[Yenikale]], near Kerch on the shore of [[Kerch Strait]]. The fortress was completed by 1706. In 1771 the [[Imperial Russian Army]] invaded [[Crimea]] and approached Yenikale. The Turks decided to abandon the fortress, though reinforcements from the Ottoman Empire had arrived a few days earlier. By the Peace [[Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji]] in 1774, Kerch and Yenikale were ceded to Russia. As a result, the Turkish heritage has been almost completely wiped out.

In 1790 Russian naval forces under the command of admiral [[Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov|Fyodor Ushakov]] defeated the Turkish fleet at the [[Battle of Kerch Strait (1790)|Battle of Kerch Strait]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/mf-black.htm| title= Black Sea Fleet (BSF) Morskoyo Flota ( Naval Force)|website=GlobalSecurity.org|access-date=29 October 2018}}</ref>

Because of its location, from 1821 Kerch developed into an important trade and fishing port. The state museum of ancient times and a number of educational institutions were opened in the city. The ironwork factory was built in 1846 based on a huge [[iron ore]] deposit found on Kerch Peninsula.

During the [[Crimean War]] the city was devastated by [[British Empire|British]] forces in 1855.

In the late 19th century, mechanical and [[cement]] factories were built, and tinned food and [[tobacco]] factories were established. By 1900, Kerch was connected to a railroad system, and the fairway of Kerch Strait was deepened and widened. At this time, the population had reached 33,000.

After suffering a decline during the [[World War I|First World War]] and the [[Russian Civil War]], the city resumed its growth in the late 1920s, with the expansion of various industries, iron ore, and metallurgy in particular, and by 1939 its population had reached 104,500.