In the original offensive plan for Operation Ring, the offensive that eliminated the pocket, the division, still with 21st Army, held positions on the margins of the Marinovka salient held by XIV Panzer Corps, and was to play a supporting role in the assault. For the offensive, which began on 10 January, the division held positions on the western face of the salient adjacent to the 96th Rifle Division; both units were to advance east from Bairak Balka towards Vodyanaya Balka against stay-behind forces from the 8th and 29th Regiments of the German 3rd Motorized Division. The assault was successful, and on 12 January it attacked southeast and east alongside the 277th and 96th Rifle Divisions, advancing between 3 and 4 kilometers and pushing the remnants of the 29th and 3rd Motorized Divisions into a narrow pocket southwest of the Dmitrievka-Karpovka road. For the attack on 13 January, the division was regrouped in order to advance east towards Pitomnik Airfield alongside other 21st Army divisions, where it would link up with troops of the 57th Army.