While Rokossovsky's Central Front continued its offensive against the German Second Army, which had by now been substantially reinforced with fresh divisions, the renewed German offensive towards Kharkov took it by surprise.
Mens Rokossovskijs Centrale Front fortsatte sin offensiv mod den 2. tyske armé, som nu havde fået betydelige forstærkninger i form af friske divisioner, blev den overrasket af den fornyede tyske offensiv i retning af Kharkov.