The division joined the 21st Army of the front on 20 February 1942 and fought in the Second Battle of Kharkov and the Battle of Voronezh. In early July it retreated to the Don in the face of advancing German motorized infantry and crossed the river in the region of Korotoyak, then was withdrawn into the army reserve. The 293rd marched to the region of Kolobrodov and Lebyazhye by 20 July, reduced to 505 personnel. The remnants of the regimental headquarters and the division headquarters marched to the region of Bolshoy Lychag which they reached by 4 August. From there, the division command and remnants of the regimental headquarters entrained at Rakovka station and were railed to Buzuluk for rebuilding. In October the rebuilt 293rd returned to the Battle of Stalingrad and joined the 63rd Army of the Don Front in defensive battles on the right bank of the Don in the region of Starokletskaya, Puzinsky, Karamensky, and Severny. Lagutin was awarded his first Order of the Red Banner on 5 November for his leadership of the division during the battles near Manturovo and the Second Battle of Kharkov.