As a result of the Battle of Kuopio and the Swedish offensive into Savonia, a significant amount of Russian troops had been tied up in the fight against Johan August Sandels and his 5th Swedish brigade; On 12 June the Swedes counted not fully 2,000 men while the Russians numbered 8,000 under Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly.

The disparity in numbers eventually forced the Swedes to abandon Kuopio on 18 June and withdraw to Toivala,[3] but not without harassing the Russians with guerrilla warfare; on 25 June Sandels commenced a feint attack towards Kuopio while Karl Wilhelm Malm and Joachim Zachris Duncker captured a large Russian convoy between Leppävirta and Kuopio — the whole operation had cost the Swedes 29 killed or wounded while the Russians had lost, in addition to the convoy, more than 82 men.

[4] Another Swedish offensive against Kuopio took place on 1 July, which, although ending in an operational failure, resulted in 211 Russian casualties to only 83 Swedes.

[5] In mid-July, Barclay de Tolly resigned his command for health reasons, it was passed over to Nikolay Tuchkov; He immediately ordered the reinforcements, which had been unable to leave due to the increased Swedish activity, to proceed west — even without these troops the Russians enjoyed a three to one numerical advantage.

Upon hearing news of his retreat, Sandels sent a Swedish force under Malm to pursue- and defeat him before the arrival of Russian reinforcements.