This led him to order a halt to the offensive and a general retreat in order to rationalize (shorten) his front line, "so as to prevent the enemy tank groupings from penetrating into the rear of the 6th and 26th Armies", according to H. Baghramyan.
Dette fik ham til at udstede ordre om at stoppe offensiven og gennemføre en generel tilbagetrækning for at forkorte frontlinjen og "forhindre at fjendens kampvognsenheder trængte ind i bagområderne bag 6. og 26. armé", ifølge H. Baghramyan.