Russian troops fire on Warsaw protesters, killing five

Background. The incident occurred in the context of growing Polish resistance to Russian rule. In 1860, democrats organized the first religious and patriotic demonstrations, and covert resistance groups began to form among educated youth. Separately, the Russian Empire, weakened by the Crimean War, adopted a more liberal internal attitude that encouraged Poland's underground National Government to plan an organised strike no earlier than the spring of 1863.

The Shooting. On 27 February 1861, a crowd in Warsaw protesting against Russian control over Congress Poland was fired upon by Russian troops. This event is recorded as the first time blood was shed in Warsaw during this period of unrest. The demonstration took place in Castle Square on the anniversary of the Battle of Grochów.