ordered the Southern Group to advance to the North-West. On 4 May the Red 5th Army captured Buguruslan, and the Whites had to quickly retreat to Bugulma. On 6 May Mikhail Frunze (commander of Red's Southern Group) attempted to surround the White forces, but the Whites quickly retreated to the east. On 13 May the Red 5th Army captured Bugulma without a fight.

Aleksandr Samoilo (new commander of the Red's Eastern Front) took