  We consider the oblique fragmentation of the current layer as a result of the
thermal instability described in Ledentsov (Sol. Phys. 296, 74, 2021a). It is
shown that the fragmentation transverse to the current is a natural feature of
the model. The fragmentation tilt does not exceed a few degrees for realistic
preflare parameters of the coronal plasma. As a consequence, oblique
fragmentation generally does not have a strong impact on the simulation
results, however, extreme changes can reach an order of magnitude. Thus,
oblique fragmentation can lead to a decrease in the estimate of the spatial
period of the location of elementary energy release in solar flares to 0.1-1 Mm
instead of 1-10 Mm obtained earlier.

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics;Plasma Physics