Still damaged, "Yavuz" sortied from the Bosphorus on 28 January and again on 7 February 1915 to help "Midilli" escape the Russian fleet; she also covered the return of "Hamidiye". "Yavuz" then underwent repair work to the mine damage until May. On 1 April, with repairs incomplete, "Yavuz" left the Bosphorus in company with "Midilli" to cover the withdrawal of "Hamidiye" and the protected cruiser , which had been sent to bombard Odessa. Strong currents, however, forced the cruisers east to the approaches of the Dnieper-Bug Liman (bay) that led to Nikolayev. As they sailed west after a course correction, "Mecidiye" struck a mine and sank, so this attack had to be aborted. After "Yavuz" and "Midilli" appeared off Sevastopol and sank two cargo steamers, the Russian fleet chased them all day, and detached several destroyers after dusk to attempt a torpedo attack. Only one destroyer, , was able to close the distance and launch an attack, which missed. "Yavuz" and "Midilli" returned to the Bosphorus unharmed.