Svyatopolk ordered his forces to kill the Polish garrisons during the uprising, but Bolesław evacuated in time with some wealth from the city which saved his life.
[4] The Primary Chronicle alleges that as the result of Polish plundering, Sviatopolk ordered: "that any Lyakhs [i.e. Poles] found in the city should be killed".
[5] The resulting unrest, according to the Primary Chronicle, forced Bolesław to leave Kiev, whereupon Sviatopolk was left to fend for himself.
[6] Thietmar's chronicle of the expedition, which is written in a part of the Chronicon not devoted to the expedition, recounts that Duke Boleslav invaded the Russian king's realm with his army,[7][8][9][page needed] where he says: ... and that after placing his long-exiled brother-in-law, the Russian's brother, on the throne, he returned in high spirits.
Bolesław's main motivation, according to modern historians, was to regain the Cherven Towns for his patrimony, while at the same time aiding his kinsman, to whom he had an obligation.