[1][2][3] Meanwhile, the bolshevik Yakov Zakharovich Pokus, the chief of staff of the 3rd Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Ukrainian Soviet Division and acting commander of the 2nd Separate Brigade, was appointed chief of staff.

On 6 June, the chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council Leon Trotsky issued an order in which he declared the head of the 7th Ukrainian Soviet Division Nestor Makhno outlawed "for the collapse of the front and insubordination to the command.

"[4] On 8 June, Alexander Semyonovich Krusser replaced Makhno as head of the division.

He died on the night of 9–10 June at the Pologi station of the Tavricheskaya province during a machine-gun attack on the armored train that he was inside.

[4][7] Pokus was subsequently appointed commander of the 1st Brigade of the 7th Ukrainian Soviet Division, on 24 June, and later appointed commander of the 3rd regiment of the Separate Bashkir Cavalry Division, on 6 July.