grebennik continued to command the border detachment until november 1942, when he was appointed deputy commander of the far eastern nkvd rifle division in the urals military district. in february 1943, the division was renamed the 102nd rifle division and was sent to the central front as part of the 70th army. he served with the division during the sevsk offensive in operation kutuzov. in august, grebennik became the commander of the 15th rifle division. the division advanced during the chernigov-pripyat offensive during august and september. during the fall, it fought in the gomel-rechitsa offensive. in january 1944, the division fought in the kalinkovichi-mozyr offensive. in june, operation bagration was launched and the division advanced through belorussia.