Yaroslav has during the past four years waged a complicated and bloody war for Kiev against his half-brother Sviatopolk, who is supported by his father-in-law, Duke Boleslaw I Chrobry of Poland.

During the course of this struggle, several other brothers (Boris, Gleb, and Sviatoslav) have been brutally murdered.

The Primary Chronicle accuses Sviatopolk of planning those murders, while the Saga of Eymund is often interpreted as recounting the story of Boris's assassination by the Varangians in the service of Yaroslav.

Yaroslav had defeated Sviatopolk in their first battle, in 1016, and Sviatopolk had fled to Poland.

Returning with Polish troops furnished by his father-in-law, Sviatopolk had seized Kiev and pushed Yaroslav back into Novgorod.

Boleslaw and his army remain in Rus' for several months, but later leave for Poland.

On his way to Poland, Boleslaw seizes some of the Cherven towns.

Meanwhile, the posadnik Konstantin Dobrynich and other citizens of Novgorod persuade Yaroslav to go to war against Kiev once again.

Sviatopolk is defeated and flees to the steppes.

Soon he returns with the Pecheneg army and attacks Yaroslav on the Alta River, but is once again defeated and flees to Poland, eventually dying on his way there.

Yaroslav now firmly establishes his rule over Kiev.