It initially included the 7th Ukrainian Rifle Division, and the Crimean Soviet Army was subordinated to it until July.

From June, the army fought in fierce defense battles with the White Armed Forces of South Russia, and in its rear with the anarchist Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine in the Donbas and Left-Bank Ukraine towards Yekaterinoslav, Poltava, and Sumy.

[3] The army fought in the Orel–Kursk operation in October and November, launching the main attack[4] and taking Kromy, Fatezh, Lgov, and Kursk.

During the operation, on 14 October, the 13th Army shock group (including the Latvian Rifle Division, the Red Cossack Cavalry Brigade, and P.A.

The army fought in defensive battles against Polish troops in the Polish–Soviet War during April and May.

From June to August the army fought in the Lvov operation, attacking in the area of Gaysin, Vinnytsia and Proskurov.