The article discusses the problem of the significance of the Black Sea region in the context of British-Russian geopolitical rivalry in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. The relevance of the study is determined by the current confrontation between Russia and the West in the context of the Ukrainian crisis against the backdrop of the general uncertainty experienced by the transforming world order. In these conditions, the Black Sea region becomes a space where competition among global and regional actors, pursuing their interests, intensifies. A similar situation was observed at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries when this region was one of the "theaters" of the "Great Game" with all the consequences that followed. The Black Sea region is characterized as a space of the "Great Game." The features of the geopolitical interests and approaches of Great Britain in the Black Sea region are identified. The interests and policies of the Russian Empire in the Black Sea region are studied in the context of British-Russian geopolitical rivalry during the period in question. The research methodology is based on a combination of systemic and geopolitical approaches. This predetermined the application of historical-systemic, historical-genetic, and comparative methods, as well as document analysis and discourse analysis. It is shown that London's desire to control the Black Sea region was linked to the strengthening of Russia's influence in Turkestan, which could potentially threaten British positions in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, as well as in China and India. Meanwhile, the leadership of the Russian Empire defined the Black Sea region as part of its vital interests, repeatedly attempting to resolve the Eastern Question in a way favorable to itself, which meant establishing Russian control over the Black Sea straits. It is established that within the framework of the "Great Game" in its broad understanding, the campaigns that took place during this period can be regarded as being conditioned by the competition of great powers in the Black Sea region, in which Petersburg, and directly or indirectly, London participated.
Pashkovsky et al. (Sun,) studied this question.