Battle of Lutsk (1256)

The Lithuanian armies of voivode Khval and Syrvyd Rushkovych entered the lands of Galicia–Volhynia, with the purpose of devastating Ruthenia. Voivode Khval previously distinguished himself in his raids on the Principality of Chernigov.^[1][5]

The main Galician–Volhynian armies of Danylo and Vasylko weren't present in the kingdom at the time, leaving only the local militias under courtiers Yuri Domazhyrych and Oleksa Orishok to fend off the Lithuanian invaders.^[4] However, as the Lithuanians were plundering outskirts of Lutsk, Domazhyrych and Orishok used this as an opportunity to ambush the Lithuanian forces. As a result, the Lithuanians were caught by surprise and forced into a chaotic retreat, getting driven into the river.^[2] This led to heavy losses among Lithuanians, with many drowning in process. Some Lithuanians attempted to save themselves by grabbing onto their horses to avoid drowning.^[1][5]

The battle resulted in Galician–Volhynian victory, with chronicles describing numerous corpses of Lithuanian troops and their equipment floating in the river, which was looted by Ruthenians. Lithuanian voivode Khval was killed, while Syrvyd Rushkovych narrowly escaped.^[1][5] Princes Danylo and Vasylko celebrated the "great slaughter" of the "heathen" Lithuanians, viewing it as a divine punishment for Khval's raids on Chernigov.^[5]

• Lytvyn, V. M. (2013). Історія України: Хрестоматія [A History of Ukraine: A Primer] (in Ukrainian). Kyiv: Naukova Dumka. ISBN 978-966-00-1312-4.