In mid-November, the Axis were still advancing on the southern front as the Germans pushed toward Rostov. The CSIR was ordered to accompany the other 1st Panzerarmee corps and resume the offensive. General Messe told the Germans that CSIR could only take limited action, but he did order the Torino Division to capture the village of Ubesicce, one of the main defensive positions on a Soviet salient that was a thorn in the Italian side. Ubesicce, as well as nearby villages, was defended by the newly-arrived 95th NKVD Regiment. The Italian 81st Regiment mounted the main assault, while 82nd Regiment undertook a flanking movement.

Despite a mist that interfered with artillery spotting, the 82nd Regiment made some early progress. However, the attack bogged down when the Italians reached the shores of the frozen Lake Volynzovskoje. Ubescicce was on the other side of the lake, but reaching it proved to be impossible. Soviet heavy machine gun fire on the exposed lake surface caused painful losses, and the regiment was ordered to move back to its initial position.