Voronezh Front
In December, he was promoted to the front's chief of staff. On 19 January 1943, he was promoted to lieutenant general. When the Southwestern Front was reformed as the Voronezh Front, Ivanov retained his position under General Nikolai Vatutin and took part in the Battle of Kursk. When the 1st Ukrainian Front was created from the Voronezh's forces, he remained as its chief of staff.