After the move to the Novobelitskiy district the division came under the direct command of Central Front. The Front's mission was to protect the junction between the Western and Southwestern Fronts. While rebuilding the 868th Rifle Regiment of the 287th Rifle Division was transferred to the 160th and renumbered as the new 443rd Regiment. Bryansk Front was created on August 16 and by August 30 the division had been transferred to this Front, serving as part of Operational Group Akimenko, which was under the command of Maj. Gen. A. Z. Akimenko and also included the 127th Rifle Division and the 753rd Antitank Regiment. On that date the "STAVKA" ordered the Front to attack with all its forces towards Roslavl and Starodub to destroy the German forces in the Pochep area and then exploit toward Krychaw and Propoisk. While these orders were utterly unrealistic and resulted in failure, in the first days of September the 127th Division, which was positioned south of Dorogobuzh, began moving south and took part in the Yelnya offensive. Meanwhile, the 160th remained in place.