Upon formation, the army took up defensive positions to the west of Kiev and on the left bank of the Dnieper River.
During the defense of Kiev the army suffered severe losses against superior German forces.
As part of the North Caucasian Strategic Offensive in January 1943 the army liberated the towns of Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Essentuki and Cherkessk.
The army was transferred to the North Caucasian Front(II Formation) on 24 January to participate in the Krasnodar Offensive.
In late September, it crossed the Dnieper River west of Keleberda and northwest of Mishurin Rog.
[2] The army was stationed in Bulgaria with its headquarters at Sofia as part of the Southern Group of Forces from 10 June 1945.
The army was disbanded on 15 June 1947, along with its 19th Mechanized Division, after signing the peace treaties with Romania and Bulgaria.