The Swedish passive policy on the border with Novgorod can be explained by the many wars it had to fight on other fronts, and on the Novgorodian side how they had to concentrate on the Teutonic Order.

[1][5][6] Under the leadership of Simeon Olgerdovich, the Novgorodians attacked and "burned villages, cut down many Swedes and captured others".

However, the walls of the fortress were too strong for them and they satisfied themselves by razing the town and raiding the local lands around Viborg.

[1][6][7] This attack would be the fourth time that Viborg was threatened in its history by an enemy force.

[1] According to the Novgorod Chronicle, the Novgorodian revenge expedition only cost them one life, that being Paul of Nutna Street.