 On the evening of 29 February, 6th Company Commander Major Sergey Molodov received an order for the Company to occupy Istykort near Ulus-Kert, with the aim of stopping Chechen insurgents from escaping the Argun Gorge.Because Molodov had only joined the unit the previous day, he had not yet familiarised himself with his men, and Yevtyukhin took charge of the company.Upon arrival at Istykort, the paratroopers found some Chechen insurgents on the hill, whose numbers grew and began to attack the company.