On 17 November Vasilevsky was recalled to Moscow, where he was shown a letter written to Stalin by General Volsky, commander of the 4th Mechanized Corps, who urged calling off the offensive.
Den 17. november blev Vasilevskij kaldt til Moskva, hvor han fik forevist et brev til Stalin fra general Volskij, chefen for 4. mekaniserede korps, som indtrængende bad om at offensiven blev aflyst.