The Mongol army, after drawing out the Rus armies for nine days in a feigned retreat, turns to face their pursuers along the Kalka River (the river's location is currently unknown, but it is thought to be the Kalchik River which flows into the Sea of Azov.

Three princes are captured and later killed at the battle site, and six more are killed in headlong pursuit back to the Dnieper River.

The chronicles name which princes took part and which died, but not much more in terms of the size of armies or casualties.

As to the actual battle itself, the chronicles report that the Polovtsy broke and ran without having fought and that their flight through the Russian ranks led to mass confusion and resulted in their slaughter by the Mongols.

The armies of Volhynia and Kursk make a gap in their line so that the fleeing Cumans can retreat.

However, the Mongol heavy cavalry charges through the newly formed gap.

The army of Chernigov, which is not aware that the battle had started, is advancing when they collide head-on with the retreating Cumans.

The Mongol cavalry takes advantage of the confusion in the Chernigov line and attacks, causing the line to collapse.

This, in turn, leads to the death of Prince Mstislav of Chernigov.

At the same time, the Mongol wings close around the shattered Rus' army, cutting off its retreat.

The surrounded Rus' are hit by volley after volley, accompanied by occasional cavalry charges.

As the Mongols are carrying this annihilation out, some of the army—led by Mstislav the Bold—manages to cut their way through the Mongol ring and escape.

Of the Rus' princes, the wounded Daniel of Volhynia and Mstislav the Bold manage to escape the battle by cutting loose all the boats on the Dnieper River the can find so they cannot be pursued.

Mstislav of Kiev arrives to see what remains of the Rus' army fleeing.

He retreats with his contingent of ten thousand men to his stockaded camp, on a hill by the Dnieper.

The pursuing Mongol army catches up with Mstislav of Kiev's forces and starts to besiege the camp.