Donbass-Don Operation (1918)

The Donbass-Don Operation was a military campaign of the Russian Civil War that lasted from January to February 1918, by forces of the Soviet Southern Revolutionary Front against counterrevolution under the command of Vladimir Antonov-Ovseyenko, against the Cossack troops of Ataman Kaledin and Volunteer detachments on the territory of the Donbass and the Don Cossack Region.

The campaign was a success for the Red forces. Rostov-on-Don was occupied by Rudolf Sivers on February 23, and Novocherkassk on February 25 by Sablin's detachment, together with the Cossack brigade of the Don Revolutionary Committee. Parts of the Volunteer Army retreated during the Ice March to the steppe and the Kuban. The Don Cossacks didn't wan't to leave the Don area and retreated towards the East in the Steppe March.

Kaledin committed suicide on 11 February 1918. the new Ataman Anatoly Nazarov didn't join the Steppe March, was arrested by the Reds in Novocherkassk and shot without trial on March 3