After successful completion of negotiations, after which Turkish Empire declared its neutrality, Tsar Peter I arrived to his headquarters deployed in the hamlet Krytoi Bereg on the left bank of Vorskla river.

After a council of war the decision to engage in the battle was made. To do this the Russian army had to cross Vorskla river. The main body of Peter's I army forded the river by three fords 12km. north of Poltava on June 16th 1709 and encamped near the village Semenovka (now Krotenki). The rest of the army crossed Vorskla river at night June 20th. To be protected against an enemy's surprise attack the Russians strengthened this camp with earthworks. To commemorate this event a concrete obelisk crowned with double-headed bronze eagle (dismantled soon after 1917) was unveiled in 1909 on top of the hill situated on the right bank of Vorskla river close to the village Semenovka. In 1959 it was replaced with a new granite obelisk created by the design of architects I.Shmulson and V.Pasechny. There is sign on the monument: "The place where Russian Army forded Vorskla river by three fords on June 20th 1709”.