In the late afternoon of the 21st, Sforzesca's command realized that the morning's counterattack was stalling. Furthermore, news that fresh Soviet troops were infiltrating the junction between the two regiments created a worrisome picture. The 1st Battalion of the 54th Regiment was wearing down, and all troops in the sector were going to be outflanked by increasingly aggressive Soviets. Therefore, sector command ordered all its troops to fall back and regroup in the village of Tcheboratesky, creating a new strongpoint.

At approximately 1830, the Soviets materialized right at the rear of 1st Battalion, 54th Regiment. Tagliamento Legion's 63rd Battalion was spread out on a five-kilometer defensive perimeter to the left, so they couldn't offer help anytime soon. The Italian artillery was making preparations to withdraw, so they couldn't help much either, and the Soviet thrust proved unstoppable. The Soviets penetrated right into the middle of the Italian defensive sector, and 1st Battalion was surrounded and almost completely destroyed. Sixty-Third Battalion's retreat route alone the main road had been cut off, but elements of that group were able to disengage in the gathering darkness and cross the steppes to safety at Thechobartesky. The artillery and cavalry fared better. After some confused melees, with Savoia mounting small-scale charges against the Soviets while the artillery limbered, the Comforti column managed to leave the battlefield almost intact.