1904 Beginning of the Russo-Japanese War
115 years ago, on February 8, 1904, the Russo-Japanese War began with a Japanese attack on Russian warships in Port Arthur. It arose because of the contradictions between the two states over the control of Manchuria and Korea. The Russian Empire rejected the Japanese proposal to fraternally divide these territories: Korea - Japan, Manchuria - Russia, hoping to capture both countries and, thanks to a "small victorious war", strengthen the prestige of the monarchy within the country.