▁Army ▁conducted ▁an ▁active ▁defense ▁along ▁the ▁V olog da ▁- ▁Ar kh angel sk ▁- ▁Kot las ▁- ▁Northern ▁D v ina ▁line . ▁The ▁strateg ic ▁task ▁of ▁the ▁army ▁was ▁to ▁prevent ▁the ▁joining ▁of ▁the ▁armed ▁forces ▁of ▁the ▁White ▁Mov ement ▁in ▁the ▁North ▁and ▁the ▁East ▁of ▁Russia . ▁The ▁ 7 th ▁Army ▁conducted ▁def ensive ▁batt les ▁on ▁the ▁out sk ir ts ▁of ▁Pet ro grad ▁in ▁the ▁Inter - D istrict ▁area , ▁on ▁the ▁K are li an ▁Ist hm us ▁and ▁the ▁Nar va ▁- ▁P sk ov ▁line . ▁ ▁In ▁January ▁ 1 9 1 9 , ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Sh enk ur sk , ▁the ▁ 6 th ▁Army ▁stopped ▁the ▁advance ▁of ▁the ▁enemy ▁and ▁created ▁favor able ▁conditions ▁for ▁a ▁counter - off ensive ▁against ▁Ar kh angel sk . ▁In ▁the ▁winter ▁of ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁and ▁ 1 9 1 9 , ▁the ▁ 7 th ▁Army ▁ ▁conducted ▁an ▁off ensive ▁on ▁the ▁Nar va ▁- ▁P sk ov ▁line , ▁but ▁as ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁counter att acks ▁by ▁the ▁Est onian ▁Army ▁with ▁the ▁support ▁of ▁the ▁Ent ente ▁and ▁the ▁participation ▁of ▁Finn ish ▁and ▁Swedish ▁volunte ers , ▁they ▁were ▁forced ▁to ▁withdraw ▁behind ▁the ▁Nar va ▁River . ▁ ▁In ▁view ▁of ▁the ▁increasing ▁danger ▁to ▁Pet ro grad ▁and ▁the ▁need ▁for ▁closer ▁co operation ▁between ▁the ▁ 7 th ▁Army , ▁the ▁Army