On July 31 , Col. Serafim Petrovich Merkulov took command of the division .
On July 31 , Col. Serafim Petrovich Merkulov would hold it for the remainder of the 1st Formation 's existence .
On July 31 , Col. Serafim Petrovich Merkulov took command of the division , and would hold it for the remainder of the 1st Formation 's existence .