When war broke out again in November 1512, Moscow's main objective was to capture Smolensk, an important fortress and trade center that had been part of Lithuania since 1404.

The Russians, commanded personally by Tsar Vasili III of Russia, laid a six-week siege in January–February 1513, but Grand Hetman Konstanty Ostrogski repelled the attack.

This time the Russian army included a number of mercenary artillerymen and landsknechts, brought from the Holy Roman Empire by Michael Glinski.

The Lithuanians won a great victory in the Battle of Orsha in September 1514, but were unable to recapture Smolensk.

To commemorate his victory Vasili III built the Novodevichy Convent within the Moscow Kremlin.