Yeni-Kale is a fortress in Kerch city, Ukraine. Yeni-Kale was built by Ottoman Turks in 1699–1706 on the Kerch peninsula that belonged to the Crimean Khanate. The name Yenikale means New Fortress in Turkish (yeni - new, kale - fortress). The fortress was built under the guidance of Goloppo, who was an Italian convert to Islam. Several French engineers also took part in the construction.

There are many historic fortresses in the Ukraine which are fascinating to explore. One of these military constructions can be found in the city of Kerch, located in the Northeast part of the country in the region of Crimea. The fortress was named Yenikale which, when translated from Turkish, means 'New Fortress'. It was built and completed by the Turks in the late seventeenth century or early eighteenth century under the supervision of an Italian architect. Interestingly enough, there was a lot of input from French engineers which contributed to the success of this military structure.

Fortifications like these were necessary components to the defense of any country. For thousands of years forts and fortresses have been built in strategic places in an attempt to protect the country from any type of invasion. The importance of these buildings can be observed as the years go by. These structures become more technical and the design more complex in an attempt to be one step ahead of the enemy.

Yenikale was no different. Yenikale Fortress was built on the Kerch Strait coast, which is where the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea first meet. The Kerch Strait forms a harbor that is eighteen meters deep and fifteen kilometers wide: an important strategic position. The fortress was well equipped with large, powerful cannons and an arsenal full of weaponry. Apart from the main fortress there are other buildings that made up Yenikale. The fortress had a steady supply of water from the water reservoir; housing for the men stationed there, a bathhouse and a mosque - an Islamic place of worship.

The Yenikale fortress could take up to 1100 Turkish and Tatar or Turkic soldiers comfortably. Between Yenikale's perfect position and armory, this fortress almost seemed impenetrable. However, the fortress had one weak point: there was no naturally accessible water in the area. Any water that was used at the fortress first had to be transported, using underground piping, from a source that was literally kilometers away. Things could fare very badly for the soldiers if something happened to the pipelines during times of war.

In 1774 Yenikale was abandoned. It was only used again in the 19th century as a military hospital, but this did not last long. Today Yenikale is a historical site that can be visited and appreciated for the part it played in the protection of Kerch and of Ukraine.

Yeni-Kale was armed with powerful cannons and took an important strategical place on the coast of Kerch Strait. The fortress occupied area of 25,000 m² and had two powder-magazines, arsenal, water reservoir, living houses, bath-house and mosque. About 800 Turkish and 300 Crimean Tatar soldiers were garrisoned in Yeni-Kale. The weak spot of the fortress was a lack of drinking water in the area, so an underground water-pipe was made to bring water from a source located several kilometres away from the fortress. Yeni-Kale was served as a residence of pasha.

During the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 the Russian Army invaded Crimea in the summer of 1771. Though reinforcements from the Ottoman Empire had arrived beforehand, the Turks decided to abandon Yeni-Kale. Russian units under command of general Nikolay Borzov entered the fortress on 21 June 1771. Abaza Muhammad Pasha who was a commandant of Yeni-Kale fled to Sinop and the sultan sentenced him to death for the number of military failures.

After the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca in 1774, Kerch and the fortress of Yeni-Kale were ceded to Russia. The fortress became a part of the Kerch-Yenikale city municipality of the Taurida Governorate.

In the 19th century the fortress was used by Russians as a military hospital. In 1855, during the Crimean War, Yeni-Kale was prepared for a battle with British fleet approaching Kerch Strait, but the cannons installed in the fortress were too weak and outdated, and military troops were ordered to leave the fortress. Yeni-Kale did not make any significant contribution in this military conflict.

Since 1880s Yeni-Kale was completely deserted. Today ruins of Yeni-Kale is often visited by tourists. The neighboring district of Kerch also is named Yeni-Kale. You can get there by direct flight to Simferopol or through Kiev or Odessa.