 Along with the 91st Rifle Division, the 166th was to attack towards Dukhovshchina.On 24 July, it reached Lelimovo but was forced to withdraw to the area between Pakikino and Pochinok.The division continued to attack and in early August captured Gutarovo, only 32 kilometers from Yartsevo.On 11 August, the 517th and 735th Rifle Regiments broke through German defences and provided a corridor for Ivan Boldin's group to escape from its encirclement.