A detachment of the Free Cossacks led by Pavlo Skoropadskyi from the 2nd Guard Corps of the Red Army took part in the battle.

[1] In the last days of December 1917, the troops of the 2nd Guard Corps recaptured Zhmerynka, and the Bolsheviks regained power over the city.

In the first 2 days, more than 200 workers of the plant enlisted in the newly organised Red Guard unit.

Pavlo Skoropadsky with a regiment of the Free Cossacks managed to stop Bolsheviks near Zhmerynka disarm them, and deport from Right-bank Ukraine.

[1] On January 27, the Bolshevik army groups converged in Bakhmach and then set off under the command of Muravyov to take Kyiv.