His command was officially handed over to General Sergei Wojciechowski, who continued the advance towards Irkutsk. Kappel's men, bringing his coffin with them (to avoid desecration like with other White Generals' burial sites), reached the city on the 5th of February. Kolchak however, had been executed on the same day, mere moments before the Whites could reach him. They then continued their retreat towards Chita, ending their Great Siberian Ice March there.