Chyhyryn War

Chyhyryn War
Part of prelude to Great War
(clockwise from top left) Vinalian cavalry in 1925. Remains of the Velkarichka Library following Ardesian shelling. Vinalian soldiers around Casimirsk in 1926. Ardesian soldiers storming houses during the Battle of Catherinsk.
Date 19 July 1925 - 3 October 1926 (1 year, 2 months and 2 weeks) Location Vinalia Status Ardesian victory -Treaty of Velkarichka signed -Vinalian lands south of the Shryoniy river turned into the Shyroniy Administrative Council -Creation of the Vinalian Salvation Government north of the Shryoniy -Vinalian government-in-exile established in the AFR
Belligerents
Ardesia Supported by Entente Gaullica	File:FirstRepofVinFlag.png Vinalia Supported by Grand Alliance Soravia Aucurian Republic
Commanders and leaders
Dinis Montecara Alberte Goulart Martim Gouveia Dinis Luz	File:FirstRepofVinFlag.png Dymtro Antonov File:FirstRepofVinFlag.png Mykhaylo Baibuza
Strength
Ardesia 426,000-540,000 (Summer 1925)	File:FirstRepofVinFlag.png Vinalia 250,000 (1925)
Casualties and losses
Ardesia 105,000 dead (from battle or disease) 192,000 wounded 16,274 missing	File:FirstRepofVinFlag.png Vinalia 140,000-190,000 dead 273,000-353,000 casualties 140,000 dead. 273,000 casualties 1936 Official Report 130,826 dead. 293,000 casualties Melynk 193,390 dead. 353,000 casualties Ivanov
98,019 killed overall ≥900,000 internally displaced & ~1,740,000 refugees

The Chyhyryn War, known in Vinalia as the War of Humiliation (Soravian: Війна приниження; Viyna Prynyzhennya) took place between Ardesia and Vinalia from 19 July 1925 to 3 October 1926. It is seen as an example of the expansionist policy that characterized the Entente powers and the ineffectiveness of the international order before the outbreak of the Great War.

Ardesian Irredentism regarding the Vinalian territories south of the Chyhyryn, was seen as a threat to the Vinalian republic. Growing tensions between both states culminated in a July concentration of troops by both sides. On the 19th of July 1925, over four hundred thousand soldiers of the Ardesian army under Alberte Goulart crossed the border and attacked Vinalian forces. Although the Vinalian was amassed in the south, it was not prepared for the Ardesian use of Armoured warfare, which quickly overran and overwhelmed Vinalian forces. Close to 30,000 Vinalian soldiers were captured as the Vinalian army retreated across the Chyhyryn river. Vinalia opted to fight the Ardesian forces in the river and the cities of Velkarichka and Catherinsk, at the time the largest and third largest cities in Vinalia, with the Vinalian government evacuating Velkarichka.

The Ardesian army was unable to mount a proper cross-river operation and instead got bogged down in urban fighting in both Catherinsk and Velkarichka. Intense Ardesian Strategic bombing had destroyed much of both historic cities. Vinalian troops pulled out of Velkarichka on November 10th 1925. Ardesia launched the invasion of Kishark on November 15th 1925, occupying the entire island after two weeks. Ardesian forces would launch renewed attacks across the Chyhyryn utilizing their beachhead in Velkarichka on the 20th of December 1925. Completing an encirclement of Catherinsk on the 5th of January 1926. Vinalian troops would remain inside Catherinsk until the 30th of January 1926. Vinalian forces would fight back Ardesian attacks across the Shyroniy river until Ardesian troops crossed it on the 4th of April 1926. Ardesian troops had occupied most of the country up to the Bin River by August 1926. Tensions in the Asterias had prompted Ardesia to redeploy its forces. A failed September counter-offensive by Vinalian forces to overrun the Ardesian defenses, lead to the collapse of the Antonov government in September as Ardesian forces successfully crossed the Bin river on September 30th, with Hennadiy Merkushko being appointed as President to come to terms with the Ardesian state.

Vinalia agreed to an armistice that split the country in two on October 1926, creating the Shyroniy Administrative Council which was occupied by Ardesian forces until it was annexed in 1929. With the rest of the country remaining under the collaborationist, client-state of the Vinalian Salvation Government until 1935. A Vinalian-government-in-exile was established immediately following the armistice, which was based in Assunçã, AFR until 1935.

The war is seen as many as the impetus for the latter Asterian theatre of the Great War, as Ardesia cited the AFR housing the Vinalian government-in-exile as justification for hostilities. The war featured Armoured warfare, Amphibious warfare, Combined arms, Close air support, Trench warfare, and Urban Warfare prominently which became commonplace in the conflict a couple months later. The war also unleashed large-scale atrocities, including the purposeful targeting of civilians due to strategic bombing.

Background

Colonial origins

The territorial dispute stemmed from disagreements between Ardesia and Vinalia as to the nature of the border, with Ardesia claiming Colonial Povelian claims which established the border at the Chyhyryn, while Vinalia supported the status quo established at the Congress of Cislania which gave the Colony of Vinalia lands up to the Meka River. Paretia which had annexed Ardesia, never claimed the former borders as did any Ardesian entities until the Ardesian State in 1914.

The Chyhyryn in 1889

Povelian explorers and settlers had arrived to the Tzapotlan Empire in 1523, easily defeating it and claiming the land. Povelia made wide claims to territorial control as was common at the time. Vinalia, discovered in 1568 by Soravian explorer Afanasij Orlev, quickly made similar large claims. When Grigori Kosh arrived at the mouth of the Chyhyryn in 1570, he too made a claim to the entire region and founded the city of Catherinsk. At the time the area between the Meka and Chyhyryn rivers was still considered to be the frontier of Povelian settlement and was inhabited mostly by indigenous rump states. The conflict began to arise as to the overlapping claims by both states as settlers began competing for land and alliances in the Chyhyryn River, but the number of settlers of either Euclean power was limited. Povelia clarified the claim in 1573 by stating that Novo Povelia reached all the way to the Chyhyryn River, while Soravia never clarified their claims. The rapid expansion of the sugar industry in both countries brought renewed interest to the region. Povelian settlers founded the town of Granoso Sul on the southern bank of the river, opposite to Catherinsk. In 1620 Soravian interests in the region grew, and the Soravian crown paid for the settlement of 2,000 people on the river basin, along with a greater military presence. In some instances, Soravian and Etrurian fighting would occur as issues on land claims and rights caused raiding.

The dispute between the Povelian and Soravian colonial settlers would be finally settled at the Congress of Cislania. As Soravia saw victory over the Estermo-Povelian league at the battle of Kisharsk, they had been able to reinforce its respective claims over the Chyhyryn now with supplemented troops. Incursions to expand their claimed territory beyond the river had seen failure. Incidents such as the Battle of Atlapulco had shown any further attempt at expanding their reach into Novo Povelia would be futile due to the vast Ardesian heat and jungle northeast. With the rest of Novo Povelia now belonging to the losing side of the war, it had been annexed by Paretia as they had been promised the prized Ardese lands for their participation. Soravia obtained a favourable border and defended the city of Catherinsk. Vespasian settlers had quickly occupied abandoned or forcibly obtained lands in the brief Etrurian invasion and occupation of Colonial South Vinalia, these settlers along with previous legal inhabitants of the region were expelled by Soravian authorities.

Tensions now with the departed Povelians and Soravians were seemingly settled with the assistance of the Paretians. However, the collective of a growing independence movement within the colony had sought a reprisal of their former territory being taken away by their perceived colonial overseers. This rapidly grew over the course of a century as the policy of reprising desired lands post-independence was widespread, particularly among the settlers fitting to expand acres of land into the Granoso. Vinalia saw a general economic boom following the war, with the former Granoso representing 15% of all Soravian colonial trade. These expansionist policies were not only limited to Vinalia but to a lesser extent the far-east regions of Eldmark concurrently held as a disputed territory between them and Ardesia due to the uncontrolled plethora of Ardesian settlers seeking newfound resources and reaffirming the national borders.

These culminated in the brief 1st Eldmarsk-Ardesian War, seeing results favoring neither side and only more cases of Ardesian irredentism. Ardesian irredentism had also grown to a component of challenging Euclean hegemony over the Asterias, particularly the Îles de Claude in the Arucian Strait. This was the cause of the War of the Arucian which had only been a failure for the Aucuro-Ardesian alliance of the Aquinas Treaty. The focus of anti-Gaullican sentiment shifted away to a more convenient target of reprising their held territorial claims, being the Granoso region of a now independent Vinalia in 1885, Vinalian fears of Ardesian irredentism, were a primary motivator in Vinalian entry into Chistovinalia, in 1863. Such fears were renewed in 1885, as Vinalia obtained independence, and feared economic and political isolation from its common Chistovodian ally. Such fears were not unfounded but due to Ardesia’s reduced military capacity and its capitals being occupied by the Gaullicans well into the early 1890s, Vinalia did not see an immediate threat from the Ardesian military.

Gaullican officers in Rémont, Gaullica was key to Ardesia's learning of the Euclean modeling of the military and instructed multiple military exercises prior.

Ardesian Functionalism's rise and the Bloody Decade

Dinis Montecara in 1926

Notably, the origins of Ardesia’s irredentist cases have remained in the mind of fringe embittered Ardesian statesmen, politicians, clergy, and the military. It didn’t prevent the decisions of citizens to frequent and even immigrate to these countries, building notable communities and diasporas such as the Ardesians resident of Catherinsk. Beyond this, the idea of a ‘Grande Ardesia’ popularly phrased by many functionalists grew to be quickly popular among the general population as it acknowledged the rise of their own party, the Sotirian Functionalist Action. A reason for this was one applicable to every country seeing its fringe parties rise, being out of the economic and social catastrophe of the Great Collapse. The SFA head and former seaman, Dinis Montecara, had already adopted the mold of Ardesian irredentist claims to the Granoso as complimentary of Ardesian functionalism. Dinis Montecara’s failure to be elected as President quickly led to him spearheading a coup popular among the military and bicoastal elite, cementing himself as the Caudilho in 1914. Utilizing their territorial claims as one of their aggressive policies became popular in the public conscience. Montecara certainly wasn’t the first dissident to hold the belief of realizing the ideology of ‘Grande Ardesia’, but was the first to properly forge a doctrine among his general staff to begin plans of invasions, the first target being Vinalia.

Vinalia was the first to become a target of Ardesian demands for a plurality of reasons, the first being the perceived notion to assert over Vinalia’s internal instability as it entered its ‘Bloody Decade’, lasting from 1909 to 1922. Vinalia which had enjoyed widespread immigration for the past century struggled with Anti-Immigrant Nativism, such fears were directed violently to outsiders most prominently Ardesian and Gowsa immigrants. The Great Collapse in 1913, only exasperated the issues, as the Vinalian agricultural sector was nearly completely destroyed. Incidents of race riots in Vinalian cities only increased from 1913 onwards, brought foreign pressure from Montecara to deal with such issues. Montecara had made numerous choices of publicly and privately vowing to “liberate Ardesians from the Vinalian plight of terror.” Such rhetoric did little to aid Ardesians in Vinalia, and cases of violence against them became commonplace.

What had also made Vinalia the first target of invasion was the fact that the Granoso remained a vital grain-producing of the country, and to ensure the success of the rest of their invasions, it had been a top priority to secure this region. On 3 September 1924, feigned attempts at diplomacy were made by Foreign Minister Pedro Venâncio with Vinalia’s respective delegates to buffer lands below the Chyhyryn and establish a ‘staging point’ at Ivanovo on the island of Kisharsk with the benefit of a share of the ports at Porto Belo through the East Arucian . The offer had been lambasted by the various elements of the Vinalian Parliament and Foreign Ministry. At the time lands south of the Chyhyryn represented 15% of the Vinalian economy, and 10% of its population with the lands between the Chyhyryn and Shyroniy representing 35% of the economy and 30% of the population. The outbreak of the Chistovodian Civil War, had caused a slowdown in the Vinalian economy, which relied on agricultural products for its own domestic production, and for international export with Soravia becoming Vinalia's largest trading partner with the collapse of the Chistovodian economy. Such agricultural products were overwhelmingly obtained in the south of the country.

Vinalian troops moving through Catherinsk, 1925

Sotirian Functionalist Action rally in Porto Belo, 1922

Reactions from Vinalia toward Ardesia’s continuously aggressive decisions for the past decade led to the prioritization of their own military, doubling it by 1924, relying on lessons obtained from the Chistovodian Civil War, and Soravian advisors. Vinalia sought to expand ties with other Asterian powers, most prominently the Asterian Federative Republic, seeking assurances to counter Ardesian aggression. Overconfidence in Ardesian prospects of overrunning Vinalian forces had come a decade prior with the entrance into the Entente, becoming a notable member alongside the functionalist-ruled Gaullica and Shangea, with Gaullica also overseeing plans of invading through their various neighboring Euclean countries. The backbone of the Entente would be securing threats from each ally's own territorial ambitions, Ardesia would be granted the benefits of co-belligerent and principal nations' industrial output, mainly Gaullica’s military doctrine and materiel to launch the invasion in the first place. Even outside the Ardesian military, the Federal Police would see themselves heavily militarized to assist in the invasion as the role of military police. By 1925, the issue of possible Ardesian aggression dominated the Vinalian elections of that year.

Rapid Vinalian expansion and acquisition of equipment made the army initially ineffective, with plans for a professional highly capable Vinalian army expected by 1926. Vinalia had moved most of its units to the south of the country, as the current state of Chistovodia made any invasion impossible. By April 1925, only some 10,000 soldiers defended the massive Chistovodian-Vinalian border, while the army could concentrate on building defenses and preparing logistics to deter Ardesian aggression. Ardesian intelligence had caught on to the maneuvers of the Vinalian navy moving ships to New Samistopol. The census among the Ardesian ministries such as the Ministry of War and Ministry of Social and Political Vigilance was to greenlight both the armed forces and the population of commencing the invasion of Vinalia. The MSPV had made the effort of relentless propaganda of a Vinalian ‘incursion’ due to this build-up, and that the ‘neuter’ of the Shyroniy and possible government change was a necessity. These served as a pretext for invasion among the population, thus beginning the crossing of Ardesian units across their border on the night of 18 July 1925. Only by 19 July was an official declaration of invasion of Vinalia announced on the Radio Television of Ardesia by Dinis Montecara.

Ardesian Invasion (1925-1926)

A general summary of Ardesian and Vinalian troop movements

Ardesian troops of the 2nd Army crossing the Vinalian border, July 1925

Initial phase

On 19 July 1925, Ardesian forces crossed the Vinalian border with a total of 36 divisions under its 6 field armies. The 1st Army under Alberte Goulart was the first to move engaged forces to the outskirts of Novyy Lipa. The trouble with Ardesian planning was their limited direction of attacks only being from the south of the country, and with that came the prioritization of mechanized forces to prevent proper Vinalian defense. The only extent of flanking came with attacks forked into 3, from the Northeast reaching the end of the Chyhyryn with the 6th and 4th Armies, to the east targeting Velkarichka with the 3rd and 5th Army, and Catherinsk with the 1st and 2nd Army.

The Ardesian airforce began to attack Vinalian targets, quickly overwhelming the minuscule Vinalian airforce. The abundance of mechanized units overrunning the Vinalian defensive positions stunted Vinalia’s chance of delaying their advances. Inadequate communications and the surprise quickly paralyzed Vinalian units. The 1st and 2nd Armies had quickly cut off Novyy Lipa from the rest of the country, with engagement creeping further and further to the center of the city, eventually being defeated within those 2 days. By 21 July 10,000 soldiers were captured within the encirclement.

Ardesian heavy artillery aiming in the outskirts of Catherinsk in August 1925

The Battle of Mesk with the pincer movements of Ardesian armor encircling the town as well as capturing 15,000 saw the first engagement with the proper use of the tanks in the war. In under a week lands below the Chyhyryn were majorly ceded to the encroaching Ardesian forces that had now captured 34,000 men, and Vinalian troops retreated across the river. Prompting widespread civilian flight, and the evacuation of the Vinalian government to New Samistopol. On 1 August 1925, attempts to break through the Chyhyryn to avoid fighting in Velkarichka and Catherinsk at the city of Myrne were met with failure. Ardesian troops were forced to attack Velkarichka and Catherinsk, the latter having the last bridges over the Chyhyryn River. Elements of the 1st and 2nd Army that had handled the battles at Mesk and Novyy Lipa spearheaded an assault towards Catherinsk with the support of artillery and strategic bombing by 3 August 1925, thus beginning the siege of Catherinsk.

Vinalian trenches at Myrne

Ardesian bombers had attacked both military and civilian targets throughout the war.

The Vinalian navy which had been based in New Samistopol was bombarded by Ardesian planes. Allowing Ardesian naval incursions between the mainland and Kisharsk. The prevention of prospected allied shipping and destroying coastal depots would be the main goal of the fleet, and heavy monitoring would be successful and isolate Vinalia. Possible supply route from a Chistovodian port to Vinalia, but idk Vinalian forces attempted to stop Ardesian advances north of the country, while it sought mediation or direct support from foreign powers, utilizing the Chyhyryn and urban centers. Military observers from various members that would later form the Grand Alliance, such as Senria, Estmere, and Werania sought to observe the actions of a Gaullican trained army, to prepare their own national armies.

Battle of Catherinsk

Civilian deaths in the southern bank of Catherinsk, 17 August 1925

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Armies had been directed to sprint towards Catherinsk and its bridges across the Chyhyryn, which Ardesian commanders believed Vinalia would be hesitant to destroy, but preferred to avoid a costly urban battle. Ardesian troops were not quick enough, and found most of the Chyhyryn and its bridges destroyed, prompting an Ardesian attack on Catherinsk. Catherinsk the 3rd largest city at the time in Vinalia, was its most important port, and was split in two by the Chyhyryn river, with 3 bridges across its span. Ardesian forces attempted to storm the southern city by force between the 1-3 of August, but found the cities defenses too strong. Ardesia would begin the first concentrated strategic bombing campaign in the war, targeting Catherinsk.

Vinalian anti-aircraft unit in Southern Catherinsk

Ardesian advances through the suburbs were slow, as a result of brutal house-to-house fighting, which inflicted high casualties on both sides. Ardesia concentrated artillery and aerial assets and began bombarding specific sections of the city. Ardesian soldiers quickly discovered that the rubble left by the destroyed building made for good protection for Vinalian soldiers. Civilian evacuations occurring all over the region were incredibly slow in Catherinsk in comparison, where a large civilian population remained. Vinalian attempts to evacuate civilians were hindered by constant Ardesian shelling and attacks on civilian ferries, on the 14 of August an overcrowded civilian ferry was bombed, leading to over 300 deaths. Vinalian attempts at slowing the Ardesian bombardment were successful, but could not provide proper defense close to the front line, due to fears over artillery strikes. Ardesian forces continued their advance over the city, capturing a warehouse that was defended for 4 days by 400 Vinalian soldiers against well over 2,000 Ardesian troops with artillery.

Ardesian tanks parading through the center of Catherinsk after the end of the siege, 15 January 1926

Southern Catherinsk after the Vinalian retreat in September 1925.

Ardesian troops attempted a new strategy with their artillery looking to pin down Vinalian troops behind the frontline, allowing Ardesian troops to attack the frontline without fear of Vinalian reinforcements. This strategy allowed Ardesian forces to regain the initiative in the middle of September, with Vinalian casualties greatly outnumbering Ardesian ones. Vinalian commanders grew increasingly worried about prospects holding the southern bank and began plans for an evacuation of its forces north. Utilizing the 3 bridges, Vinalian forces began a retreat on the night of the 20 of September, but Ardesian forces became aware quickly. Attacking the now weakened Vinalian lines, a general Vinalian route commenced, forcing the planned demolition of the bridges to not take place. Vinalian commanders looking to establish order, found their planned evacuation plan a general failure, by sunrise Ardesian forces had taken most of the southern bank. Vinalian artillery was successful in slowing the Ardesian advance, while Vinalian barrier troops were said to have fired on Vinalian conscripts to reestablish order. Vinalian engineers were able to destroy two bridges, with the Shishkina bridge tentatively left open to allow for the retreat of some remaining 3,000 soldiers and civilians. Under the cover of darkness, Ardesian troops quickly overwhelmed the pocket south of the bridge and quickly pushed into the bridge, a brutal firefight ended with Ardesian commandos taking control of both sides of the bridge, but suffering immense casualties. The liquidation of the pocket south of the river, and the arrival of further reinforcements, ensured the survival of the bridge. Vinalian attempts to hit it were unsuccessful.

Ardesian troops found the northern banks of Catherinsk nearly impossible to take, due to the constrained supply lines. Vinalian artillery bombardment on the bridge would force a standstill of operations to the Vinalian advantage. The northern bank, which had been heavily destroyed, featured extensive fortifications along with Vinalian troops on the sewer system. Ardesian casualties would mount, and it was decided to focus its efforts elsewhere. Vinalian troops would pull out of Velkarichka in mid-November, while the Ardesian crossing of the Chyhyryn would allow its mechanized forces, which had been of little importance following the first week of combat, a renewed opportunity. Catherinsk would be encircled on early January 1926, and the operation to liquidate its pocket, slow and methodical. Vinalian troops would surrender on 30 January 1926, after 6 months of brutal urban fighting. The battle had been a pyrrhic victory for the Ardesians, as they heavily invested in their 1st and 2nd Armies to cover the entire city months before its actual capitulation, but ultimately the unintended relief of the 5th Army by January would prove otherwise. Ardesia suffered 30% of their casualties in the city of Catherinsk, while Vinalian forces suffered 20%. Up to that point, it was arguably the deadliest battle up to that point in the Asterias, and among the deadliest battles in history.

Battle of Velkarichka

Vinalian troops in southern Velkarichka in September 1927.

Ardesian troops laying sporadic fire in the Velkarichka suburbs.

The battling over Velkarichka had been more successful for the Ardesian invasion plan as it had spanned shorter within the initial summer invasion. Elements of the 5th Army were to spearhead with the assistance of their armored units that were piercing quickly through Vinalian defenses upon the Shyroniy. Remarkably Vinalia’s shortcomings in obtaining a significant deterrent against Ardesian tanks were due to their insufficient lack of anti-tank weapons. The arrival of anti-tank weaponry wouldn’t see its implementation well after the initial phase of the invasion, well after it could’ve prevented significant grounds. Within 4 days after the initial invasion Velkarichka would evacuate all of its civilians out of the city before the ensuing fighting. Evacuation primarily happened as an immediate result of civilian casualties amidst the shelling of the city by the Ardesians, reaching deaths reported as high as 232. The plan of capturing the two major cities below the Shyroniy began with the fighting at Velkarichka. It was emphasized as a vital duty among the troops as it would ensure success in the rest of the invasion, thus the units fighting would be relentless in this attempt in securing the initial suburban areas of the city.

The Ardesian 5th Army engaged in Myrne.

Vinalia anticipated an Ardesian crossing of the Shyroniy into the village of Meka with the help of their artillery scouts, quickly reinforcing their western flank to stomp this attack. The resultant Battle of Meka would result in a victory marking the first significant victory for Vinalia, as they had considerably delayed the movements of attempted encirclement. Redrawn plans were the inclusion of liberally bombing the city over the course of multiple runs throughout August. The aims of occupying Velkarichka weren’t in consideration of the Ardesian general staff as the resources were primed for capturing Catherinsk, but with the damage done to the city, the ease of capturing it within November had made them reconsider. With the rest of the Southern Chyhyryn Line collapsing, it had further enabled the possibility of Ardesian capture. The Vinalian forces had slowly relinquished their grasp on the city, as a third of the city would be taken by the Ardesians on 1 November with the assistance of armor as an abandoned beachhead had now been taken.

Within the next 4 days, urban combat continued as the Vinalians were under frequent attack while they retreated well up to the city’s palace. Light infantry of the 17th Rivergine Regiment had crept to the busying Vinalians making their last actions of withdrawing their materiel in the city and weighing them under frequent skirmishes. By the 7th, two-thirds of the city was occupied with the remaining grasp of territory by the Vinalians only being the suburban outskirts. Mounting casualties, while they continued to hold nonvital grounds that reached up to over 15,000 casualties, would force them to retreat to the northern bank on the 10th. The victory at Velkarichka would be limited in keeping the Vinalians north of the city, now confined to the region's unimportant rural jungles and mountains. This would allow the rerouted force of the 5th Army to secure the encircling of Catherinsk and a push to capture Novyy Samistopol.

Battle of Kisharsk

Ardesia's Cipriano class cruiser of the East Arucian Fleet in the Kosene, 1925.

Ardesian troops of the 7th Infantry Division engaged in urban combat in Ivanovo, 16 November 1925.

The last remaining stronghold of Vinalian troops below the Shyroniy had been the island of Kisharsk, only confronted by the multiple sorties conducted by the Ardesian Air Wing throughout the entirety of the initial invasion. The garrison stationing the Vinalian troops had been only a rough size of 10,000, equivalent to a division. Plans to capture the island first confronted the laying of multiple sea mines prior to the actual invasion, which would’ve destroyed any movements of their vessels. The aging torpedo boats belonging to the Gaullicans in the Arucian were to be utilized as improvised minesweepers and thus were the first to lead the devised unit of vessels toward the Kosene. Ships of the East Arucian Fleet comprising cruisers, transports, and escorting torpedo boats were to support the amphibious landing in the aftermath of the success seen in the mainland.

Further plans of cutting Vinalia away from Grand Alliance supplies would be foiled, as the amassed fleet would be discovered by the work of Vinalian intelligence reporting on their moves toward the port cities of Novyy Samistopol and Orlavo. Honing the effect of the amphibious forces would be honed towards Kisharsk, as the disruption of possible GA supplies would be quickly given to as a task for the Ardesian air forces. Air raids upon Orlavo would be seen as relieving the pressure of the expected failure of the fleet had they carried on with their objective, and would only see their implementation to the sole island. By 14 November the torpedoes escorted the cruisers and transport toward the Kishark Strait, only successful in a plethora of demining explosives before the incident of an Ardesian cruiser Cipriano was sunk by a sea mine. The convoy had departed from Catherinsk and began their landing in Kisharsk with the brigades of the 2nd Army’s 7th Infantry Division, sizing up to 7,000 men. The landing was focused on the lower east and west coasts of the island engaging with the Vinalian garrison by the afternoon of 15 November.

A disadvantage among the grounded Ardesian troops was their lack of properly deploying tanks due to the islands' rocky geography. Bombardments by the naval and air forces had been from the southern face of the island followed by intense pushing among the Vinalian flanks. A majority of the stationed Vinalians were concentrated in Ivanovo, and endured weeks of the 7th Division's attempt to encircle them from the rest of the island. The Vinalian troop's move to break through the linking of the divisions was successful in creating a gap that left them holding off attacks from completing their encirclement. Ardesians that had now captured the region dock led to the remaining uncaptured battalion of Vinalians being covered by the hindering detachment of their counterparts. Ivanovo had been fully captured by the nearing end of the month with 1,480 Vinalian troops captured, but continuing skirmishes throughout the island would last until 3rd December, 19 as the rest were unable to properly evacuate the area leaving them killed or captured. The end of the Battle of Kisharsk majorly marked the end of the beginning year of the war, by then the Ardesian military was successful in advancing the focal point of the war towards the Shyroniy after capturing 3 notable Vinalian settlements. Supplementing their losses over the course of the 6 months had become the priority before crossing the river with the case of overwhelming Novyy Samistopol and edging the frontline towards the Bin, making it ever-costly for the Vinalians to continue the war effort. Continuing their push was well within the spring and summer seasons, however, the only viable Vinalian strategies in reaction were the attempt to delay it, whether through the planned counter-offensive or the conditions of the weather.

Bin offensive

Vinalian troops rushing to reinforce their left flank against the Ardesian 5th Army, 1926

The Bin Offensive came in the aftermath of a 3-month period of no notable engagements or victories between either side. It had started after Ivanovo's capture and the Vinalians' encirclement at Catherinsk where the 5th Army linked with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Armies near Novyy Samistopol by January 1926. The hiatus of Ardesian advancements was broken with the numerous artillery and air raids against the port city in an attempt to disrupt the flow of potential Soravian and Chistovodian supplies. Making up for their lack of ground advances were the continuing air raids on the northern cities of Orlavo and Casimirsk. The aim of capturing Novyy Samistopol before the resumption of advances beyond the Shyroniy began with the naval bombardment from the Ardesian fleet's sole pre-dreadnought ship Ravelle on 5 April 1926.

Ardesian artillery positions south of Tajinsk, 8 July 1926.

Ardesia’s troops would advance towards the city on the 6th with their two flanks from the west and south. Vinalian troops would cross the Shyroniy near the city to reinforce a faltering left flank under the constant attacks of the Ardesian air forces. Revitalized troops of the 7th Infantry Division were to make a landing attempt with boats to relieve the driving forces from the east. The 1st and 2nd Armies would thrust forward with their armored and motorized divisions to the center of the center to force the left flank under the Vinalians to retreat along with their allies. As prior Vinalian intelligence reported possible amphibious incursions of the city, the defenses were prepared to hold down the landings at the city's shores. On the 7th after heavy fighting a bulge would form toward the northeast of the city as the 1st Army would pressure the coastal defenses to retreat via the Shyroniy, and the remaining Vinalian forces would be forced to retreat to the northern bank as well before encirclement. The sudden arrival of the overwhelming 1st Army would force many Vinalian units to abandon their heavy equipment.

The reality of the Ardesians crossing the Shyroniy would incite great mustering of remaining offensive capabilities to prevent their further crossing of the Bin. Now between those two rivers, the Ardesian forces were uninterrupted in their advancements toward the north with mechanized and abundant armored units. Ajaransk, Tajinsk, and Meliorask were among the Vinalian cities to support the backbone of a forwarded set of Vinalian attacks delaying the speedy approach of the Ardesians. Throughout the spring and early summer, numerous initial victories against the offensive were reported across established lines. Further slowing of the Ardesian forces would be seen with the ruination of their transport capabilities amidst a tropical cyclone, slowing their encroaching advances towards the Bin throughout early August. Ardesia’s stubborn advance through these conditions would have relented many Vinalian positions until they finally approach the southern bank of the Bin, further giving Vinalia’s last attempt at a counter-offensive before the cause of great human and material loss would contribute to the government’s collapse.

The Shyroniy Administration was a creation of the Treaty of Velkarichka, before being annexed by the Ardesian State in 1929 as the state of 'Granoso'.

Treaty of Velkarichka

-Vinalian surrender of all territories south of the Chyhyryn River

-Velkarichka and Catherinsk to remain demilitarized

-Vinalian war reparations

-Vinalia to cease all support for the Entente, and fighting with the Grand Entente

-Vinalia to recognize all territorial acquisitions of the Grand Alliance

-Vinalia to restrict trade with Grand Alliance powers

-Vinalia to reoccupy lost territory at a pace of 10 days behind Ardesian troops

-Ardesia to abandon all territory north of the Shryoniy river