The Grand Duchy of Lithuania similarly to the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland was surprised by incidents after defeats of field hetmans in battle of Korsuń and coming of Cossacks in Brześcian and Czernihow provinces in June 1648. Chmielnicki wanted his forces in Lithuania to absorb local commanders so he would be able to focus on struggles against Polish forces in Ukraine. In 1649 Lithuanian army defeated Cossacks army led by M.S. Krzyczewski of Łojów (31st July 1649) but because of lack of gun powder and big losses field hetman Janusz Radziwiłł definitely refused to go on Kiev. It downgraded relations between king John Kazimierz and hetman Radziwiłł. During campaign of 1651 Cossacks troops were bracked owing to victory of Lithuanian forces over Cossacks commanded by colonel Martyn Nebaba of Łojów (6th July) and seizure of Kiev. Janusz Radziwiłł’s triumphal entry into aforementioned city (4th August) did not end Lithuanian struggles with Cossacks that year; after joining the Crown Army they fought on Biała Cerkiew (23rd September). Lithuanian struggles against the Cossacks in 1648-1651 have shown how dangerous for Chmielnicki was cooperation of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that forced him to divide his forces and enabled Lithuanians further military activities towards Kiev.

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