Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Mushure meOperation Barbarossa, kupindirwa kweGermany kweSoviet Union, kwakatanga musi wa22 Chikumi 1941, Yermolkin akarwa kuSouthwestern Front neyuniti yake. Sechikamu cheuto rechi26, boka racho nemapoka aro vakatanga hondo munharaunda yeDrogobych. Munguva yeBorder Battles musi wa25 Chikumi 1941 sechikamu chemauto chikamu chakatangisa
kurwisa munharaunda yeBrody neDubno, uye ipapo mukurwa kwakasimba vakadzokera kuProskurov neVinnytsia. Vaimbova Major Yermolkin vakakuvadzwa ne shrapnel panguva yekurwa munzvimbo yeRadzivilov musi wa 28 Chikumi. Muna Nyamavhuvhu panguva yeHondo yeKiev akagadzwa mutungamiri we300th Motor Rifle Regiment ye7th Motorized Division, achitungamirira muhondo dzinotyisa kumaodzanyemba kweKiev sechikamu che26th Army. Yermolkin akabatwa mukukomberedzwa munaGunyana asi akakwanisa kudzokera kumitsara yeSoviet muna Gumiguru, mushure mezvo akagamuchira rairo ye680th Rifle Regiment ye169th Rifle Division, yakaita kurwa kwakasimba sechikamu che38th Army yeSouthwestern Front mudunhu reVolchansk. Kubvira muna December akatungamirira 584th Rifle Regiment ye199th Rifle Division yeuto. Muna Chikunguru 1942 Yermolkin akava mutevedzeri wemutungamiri we304th Rifle Division yeuto panguva yeDonbass Defensive operation.