The Siege of Kyiv by the Mongols took place between November 28 and December 6, 1240, and resulted in a Mongol victory. It was a heavy morale and military blow to Halych-Volhynia and allowed Batu Khan to proceed westward into Europe.
Background
Batu Khan and the Mongols began their invasion in late 1237 by conquering the Principality of Ryazan in north-east Rus. Then, in 1238 the Mongols went south-west and destroyed the cities of Vladimir and Kozelsk. In 1239, they captured both Pereyaslav and Chernihiv with their sights set on the city of Kyiv.
When the Mongols sent several envoys to Kyiv to demand submission, they were executed by Michael of Chernigov and later Dmytro.
The next year, Batu Khan’s army under the tactical command of the great Mongol general Subutai reached Kyiv. At the time, the city was ruled by the principality of Halych-Volhynia. The chief commander in Kyiv was Voivode Dmytro, while Danylo of Halych was in Hungary at that time, seeking a military union to prevent invasion.
Siege
The vanguard army under Batu’s cousin Möngke came near the city. Möngke was apparently taken by the splendor of Kyiv and offered the city terms for surrender, but his envoys were killed. The Mongols chose to assault the city. Batu Khan destroyed the forces of the Rus vassals, the Chorni Klobuky, who were on their way to relieve Kyiv, and the entire Mongol army camped outside the city gates, joining Möngke’s troops.
On November 28, the Mongols set up catapults near one of the three gates of old Kyiv where tree cover extended almost to the city walls. The Mongols then began a bombardment that lasted several days. On December 6, Kyiv’s walls were breached, and hand-to-hand combat followed in the streets. The Kyivans suffered heavy losses and Dmytro was wounded by an arrow.
When night fell the Mongols held their positions while the Kyivans retreated to the central parts of the city. Many people crowded into the Church of the Tithes. The next day, as the Mongols commenced the final assault, the church’s balcony collapsed under the weight of the people standing on it, crushing many. After the Mongols won the battle, they plundered Kyiv. Most of the population was massacred. Out of 50,000 inhabitants before the invasion, about 2,000 survived. Most of the city was burned and only six out of forty major buildings remained standing. Dmytro, however, was shown mercy for his bravery.
After their victory at Kyiv, the Mongols were free to advance into Hungary and Poland.