To the Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council, Trotsky.

Copy to the CC of the RCP.

Kharkov, July 26.

The latest setback on the Wrangel front is explained by the belated arrival of fresh divisions from the north, which cannot concentrate before August 10. Wrangel is evidently informed about the transfer of divisions and is trying to preempt us.

No small role was also played by the fact that Moscow does not pay proper attention to the Crimean front. In my opinion, the formation of a special Crimean Revolutionary Military Council will not constitute an advantage. The whole question lies in the aforementioned circumstance, not in the organization of a special Revolutionary Military Council for Crimea. The latter is, in my view, superfluous.

The loss of Orekhov and even Aleksandrovsk was to be expected in the event of Wrangel's attempt to preempt us and given our unreadiness. Now that Wrangel's blow has begun, it is likely that our reverses will continue for some time. I repeat, that is the question, not the formation of a new Revolutionary Military Council. That is why I find your proposal unnecessary.

Stalin.

Source: Bolshevik Leadership. Correspondence. 1912-1927, p. 149.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 1. D. 1868. L. 2-4.