A day after the German counter-attack, the Soviets finally got their own responses under way. Marshal Semyon Timoshenko issued stern orders to Gen. K.P. Podlas of 57th Army to launch his own reserves against the German flank. Podlas had already been killed in action, rallying his troops with pistol in hand, and it was some hours later that the remnants of his Army staff got the attackers moving.

The Soviets launched a series of concentrated attacks, but gave little artillery support while the Germans enjoyed good artillery plus occasional Stuka strikes. One Guards Rifle division and two regular army cavalry divisions launched separate attacks on different parts of the division's line, and all met the same fate. The attackers reeled back in disorganization and the panzers continued to drive forward without fear for their lines of communication.