In 1362 or 1363, the Battle of Blue Waters marked a pivotal moment in Lithuania’s rise as a regional power. Under the leadership of Grand Duke Algirdas, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania decisively defeated the Golden Horde on the banks of the Syniukha River, finalizing the conquest of Kiev and expanding Lithuanian control deep into southern territories.
The Golden Horde, weakened by internal succession struggles following the death of Berdi Beg Khan in 1359, was fracturing into competing factions. Algirdas saw an opportunity to expand Lithuanian influence southward, particularly over the Principality of Kiev, which had been under partial Lithuanian control since the Battle on the Irpin River in the early 1320s but still paid tribute to the Horde.
In preparation, Algirdas marched between the Dnieper and Southern Bug rivers, capturing key areas, including parts of the Principality of Chernigov and attacking fortresses like Korshev along the Don River. As Algirdas advanced, Tatar beys of Podolia organized a resistance but failed to mount an effective defense.
The two forces clashed near present-day Torhovytsia, then known as Sinie Vody (Blue Waters). According to later chronicles, Algirdas deployed his troops in six groups, forming a half-circle. The Tatar army, relying on archery, launched volleys of arrows, but these had little effect against the tightly organized Lithuanian and Ruthenian forces. Lithuanian troops, armed with spears and swords, advanced and broke the Tatar lines. Meanwhile, units from Naugardukas, led by Algirdas’s nephews, attacked the flanks with crossbows, causing the Tatar formation to collapse into a chaotic retreat.
The victory at Blue Waters was a major milestone for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It consolidated control over Kiev and much of present-day Ukraine, including Podolia and the sparsely populated frontier regions known as Dykra. Lithuania also gained access to the Black Sea, further enhancing its strategic and economic influence. Algirdas left his son Vladimir as the ruler of Kiev, solidifying Lithuanian dominance in the region. Podolia was entrusted to Algirdas’s nephews, ensuring stable governance of the newly conquered lands. With this victory, Lithuania not only expanded its borders but also became a direct rival to the growing power of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, setting the stage for future conflicts between the two powers.