Bakunin led the corps in the Siege of Mogilev, part of the Battle of Smolensk. On 13 July, Bakunin became commander of the Soviet troops in Mogilev after rest of the 13th Army withdrew. The city was encircled by the German advance. On 21 July, Bakunin reported that his shells had been expended and requested more ammunition. Disobeying orders from superiors not to retreat, he ordered a breakout for the night of 26 to 27 July as a result of severe ammunition shortages. Western Front commander Semyon Timoshenko reported on 27 July that Bakunin had been turned over to a military tribunal for his ordering the breakout. Bakunin led 140 others in the escape out of the encirclement. After reaching Soviet lines, he was at the disposal of the Western Front and the Main Personnel Directorate of the People's Commissariat for Defence. In late December Bakunin became a senior lecturer in tactics at the Frunze Military Academy and was then the head of a course.