on the planet. c. on June 22, 1812, Napoleon sent a 500,00 French soldiers into Russia. At first, victory a force of seemed for the French For example, they defeated the Russian force at Borodino on certain a September 7. One week later, the French captured Moscow, However, the French troops were ordered to retreat the following month. Their number were sharply reduced by starvation, exposure to the Russian winter, and the resistance of their enemies. Only 30,000 French soldiers survived the campaign.