on 1 september 1944, keserović proclaimed general mobilization. in october 1944, when the red army entered occupied serbia from bulgaria, some of keserović's troops met them and briefly occupied the town of kruševac in central serbia alongside them. however, within days, the soviet troops disengaged from the chetniks and demanded they disarm, threatening to use force if they did not. keserović reported this to mihailović on 19 october and refused the ultimatum, withdrawing towards the ibar river valley with a small detachment of about 500 men. two of his brigades were disarmed by the red army. those taken into custody included kramer, who was subsequently released. keserović himself barely escaped being captured and turned over to the partisans.