In 1770 when Russia and Turkey were at war, a Russian Navy flotilla visited the Aegean under the leadership of Alexi Orlof. Following a series of unsuccessful battles in the Aegean and after losing the naval battle in Limnos, Orlof ordered his frigate and the rest of the flotilla to retreat towards Italy. However, the Greek crews pleaded with him and convinced him to stay and continue the fight. Orlof changed his mind and decided to set up his command post in the naturally protected harbor of Poros. In 1834, the Greek State bought the Russian installations at Poros and founded the First Naval base in Greece. However, during the same year Russia decided to build new installations (warehouses) a few kilometers away from its old base, at the present point of the ruins of the Russian Naval Base, which is across the picturesque islet of "Daskaleio."