Telegram to S.S. Kamenev, July 2, 1920

Source: Tom 17

With the arrival of the front's armies at the line Sarny-Rovno-Proskurov-Kamenets-Podolsky, the first phase of the front's combat operations is concluded, and at the same time this line constitutes the starting position for the resolution of the front's fundamental task -- the strike on Brest-Litovsk. Since the armies of the front have been given a definite deadline for reaching the indicated starting line, the operations of the army, especially the Cavalry Army, are proceeding successfully, and the deadline for completing the task expires on July 3, I cannot make changes in the regrouping of the army's units. On the other hand, directing the Cavalry Army along the direct route to Kovel-Brest-Litovsk through forested and marshy terrain -- something already experienced during its operations in the Korosten area -- would reduce its effectiveness to zero, and is therefore unacceptable.

The further development of operations is envisaged as follows:

1) Upon seizing the Rovno area, the Cavalry Army's advance units shall capture the crossings over the Ikva and Styr Rivers in the Dubno-Lutsk area, carry out the corresponding regrouping, and obtain the necessary respite for bringing up the rear, shoeing horses, and other conditions ensuring the success of further maneuver, for which four to five days will be required. The movement of the Cavalry Army is planned as a bypass of Kovel and Brest-Litovsk in the general direction Lutsk-Vladimir-Volynsky-Kholm-Lukov.

2) The direct Kovel-Brest direction is assigned to the strike group of the 12th Army.

3) The covering of this main operation shall be entrusted to the 14th Army with the general task of striking toward Lvov-Tarnov.

Member of the Revolutionary Military Council: Stalin.

Chief of Staff of the South-Western Front: Libus.

Commander of the South-Western Front: Egorov.

Source: Kakurin N., Melikov V. Civil War in Russia: The War with White Poland, pp. 666-667.