[3][4] In early 1919, the eastern front of the Directorate of Ukraine collapsed, and by spring, the Ukrainian insurrection had failed under attack from all sides, including by the White armies.

[5] In July, the Polish High Command decided to strike one more blow against the Bolsheviks and to cripple the Russian Army's Western Division, headquartered in Minsk.

[8] The assault on the vital railway centre by the Polish Northern Group was led by General Stanisław Szeptycki, whose officers included Władysław Anders, Józef Adam Lasocki and Stefan Mokrzecki.

[3][9] Perhaps as retribution for the actions of the Jewish regiments, the Polish troops killed 31 Jews suspected of supporting the Bolsheviks, beat and attacked many more, looted 377 Jewish-owned shops with the aid of the local civilians and ransacked many private homes.

In late summer, Polish Commander-in-chief Józef Piłsudski had ordered his armies to stop their offensive, as he considered that all the territories that were important to Poland and could be taken before winter had been secured.