Russian forces under Fyodor Sukhatin and Aleksander Lesley managed to capture the fortress of Dorogobuzh, which was held by some 300 Polish-Lithuanian soldiers, supported by an unknown number of Zaporozhian Cossacks, loyal to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

The Russians acted very slowly and their army did not leave Moscow until 9 August, crossing the border on 30 September.

Altogether, the Russian Army had some 60 000 men, including a main force of 25 000 and 158 cannons, led by Mikhail Shein.

There, Shein ordered the front guard under Sukhatin and Lesley to march towards Dorogobuzh and capture the town, opening the way towards Smolensk.

In spring of 1632, upon the initiative of Voivode of Smolensk Aleksander Korwin Gosiewski, the fortifications of Dorogobuzh were reinforced.