On 17 May, Armenian civilian forces officially had control of the town. At the same time, the advance guard of the Russian forces, which pushed the 1st and 3rd Ottoman Cavalry Brigades from the city of Manzikert since 11 May, reached the northern area of the province and extended up to the shores of Lake Van, and the advance guard of Russian forces already in the town pushed the Ottoman forces with a continued press to the south of city.
On May 17, Armenian civilian forces took control of the town. Concurrently, the Russian advance force, which had driven back the 1st and 3rd Ottoman Cavalry Brigades from Manzikert since May 11, reached the northern region of the province and extended to Lake Van's shores. The Russian advance force already in the town was pushing the Ottoman forces southward.