In October 1919, the Red Army launched a counter-offensive against the Armed Forces of South Russia, in order to stop their advance on Moscow and to regain the territories lost in the previous two months.

[1] On 13–20 October, the Reds forced Vladimir May-Mayevsky's Volunteer Army to withdraw from the Russian capital to Kursk.

A fierce battle for the Kastornoye railway junction lasted for almost a month, finally ending with the victory of the Reds.

In June 1919, they had welcomed the Whites in the hope of improving the economic situation in the city, counting on overcoming difficulties in supplying Kharkiv with food and restarting closed industrial plants.

[7] On the other hand, the Reds' victory in the Battle of Kharkiv enabled them to continue their march south and recapture Donbas, which also took place at the turn of 1919 and 1920.