[2][3] Before the battle was fought, Zasmyki had been constantly harassed by Ukrainian forces,[2] who murdered the population, as on 23 August in the colony of Piórkowicze, where civilians returning to their homesteads to get food were attacked by UPA units.

The defence of this vast settlement was a difficult task due to the limited number of troops and the lack of adequate fortifications.

[4] The Poles attacked from close range, using small arms and grenades, which forced the UPA to retreat into the bushes.

His colleagues managed to load him onto a farm wagon, but during the retreat he was hit by a fatal series from an enemy erkaem.

Sergeant Jan Czajkowski "Lipiec" took advantage of the cover of thick pines and approached at a distance of several metres, neutralising the enemy with a long series from the machine gun.

On the right wing, cadet Tadeusz Korona "Groński" captured carts with ammunition and a field kitchen full of poultry prepared for the UPA.