2019 Invasion of Vyzhva
| 2019 Invasion of Vyzhva | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Glasic artillery shells Vyzhvan positions | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Vyzhvan Collectivist State | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1 million personnel | 1.5 million personnel (on paper) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
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4,037 killed 16,288 wounded |
50,000-80,000 killed 75,000-200,000 wounded 150,000 caputred | ||||||
The 2019 Invasion of Vyzhva (Also known as Operation: Geas) was an invasion of the Vyzhvan Collectivist State by an international Coalition (commonly known as the Vyzhvan War Coalition). The invasion began on 15 February 2019 and lasted for just under two months, concluding on 13 April, during which a combined force of troops from Tír Glas, Kolodoria, Dayashina, and Hallia (as well as additional support from other countries) invaded Vyzhva. The Coalition declared victory on 13 March following the capture of the Vyzhvan capital of Melna.
The Glasic-led coalition deployed some 230,000 troops from the various states of the Vinyan Defense Union. Dayashina and Ragamaa combined to deploy nearly 150,000 ground troops in additional to naval forces. Jedoria provided the single largest contingent with nearly 400,000 personnel, while various other states contributed smaller forces, including special forces from New Tyran and Sebrenskiya.
The invasion was a response to a series of terrorist attacks that had occurred in Tír Glas in late 2018, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 2,000 people, with thousands more wounded. A Glasic investigation concluded that Vyzhva was responsible for the attacks, which had served as a culmination of increasing tensions within Vinya. Earlier in the year, Vyzhva had shot down a Kolodorian patrol aircraft, which resulted in a series of brief border skirmishes. Vyzhva, essentially a rouge state, enjoyed little to no international support, but denied any involvement in the attacks and condemned the Glasic claims as "imperialist propaganda".
Beginning in late 2018, major Coalition states began a series of military exercises which were in fact a cover for the largest military buildup since the Pan-Septentrion War. After two months of buildup, the Coalition commenced the invasion on 15 February 2019, preceding it with a concentrated missile strikes from air and naval forces, intended to decapitate Vyzhvan political and military leadership. The following day Coalition forces invaded Vyzhva from nearly every direction, with Kolodorian forces invaded the east, a combined Galeno-Dayashinese force invaded from the west, and Galeno-Hallian forces invaded from the south. The Vyzhvan military, the People's Mobilization, resisted the invasion but much of it's command and control functions were destroyed or otherwise incapacitated by Coalition air and missile strikes. Without higher leadership, the People's Mobilization was unable to effectively coordinate a defense of the steppe-nation, resulting in what Coalition commanders described as "fierce but disorganized" resistance.
Coalition forces made rapid progress during the early weeks of the invasion. The Vyzhvan air force was destroyed on the ground and Vyzhvan reserves struggled to take the field due to complete control of the skies by Coalition air forces. Targan was captured in less than a week by Glasic forces, while Kolodorian forces encircled Vyzhvan units in eastern Vyzhva. Coalition forces then rapidly advanced towards Kupka and Prognoi, but were forced to lay siege to both cities, which lasted until 13 March. Coalition forces then advanced on Melna, which held out until 11 April. While Melna was surrounded, Coalition forces destroyed the last bastions of Vyzhvan resistance within the interior of the country. The Kolodorian Government's announcement of victory on 13 April is generally considered the official end of hostilities.
The invasion spurred a massive humanitarian crisis due to the collapse of Vyzvhan infrastructure and civil services, which were already limited to begin with. Non-government organizations and aid services from across Septentrion sent volunteers and supplies to alleviate the crisis, including some national governments. During the invasion, Coalition forces confirmed the long rumored existence of labor camps set up by the Zayetist regime, which housed hundreds of thousands of political prisoners. The Zayetist regime was effectively dissolved during the war and replaced by a Coalition governing authority. Following the cessation of hostilities, Jedoria officially annexed western Vyzhvan territories it had long held claim to.
Background
Build Up
Course of the Invasion
Decapitation Campaign
In the early hours of February 14th 2019 Tír Glas conducted a pre-emptive bombardment of key positions in Vyzhva including ammunition dumps, airfields and dispersal sites, bridges and rail infrastructure. Over a hundred land-attack missiles were launched in this initial strike alone, primarily from a Bean Sí-class submarine somewhere in the Sodor Firth. Simultaneously, aircraft operating from bases in Tír an Fáil systematically struck along the southern coast of Vyzhva destroying what little coastal naval presence it possessed as well as destroying road and rail infrastructure in the surrounding areas. Simultaneously, the Dayashinese contingent began their pre-emptive bombardment, with cruise missiles fired from two destroyers, one cruiser, one submarine, and various aerial elements striking Vyzhvan government, communication, and command infrastructure, generally throwing the Vyzhvans into disarray.
Dayashinese naval and aerial assets fired a combined total of 100 cruise missiles in the decapitation barrage alone. The Yakaze-class destroyer RDNS Shiokaze fired 12 Tomahawks and 3 Mosquitos. Identically, the Miyuki-class destroyer RDNS Shirayuki fired off 12 Tomahawks and 3 Mosquitos. The Yamazaki-class guided missile cruiser RDNS Moto fired a total of 24 Tomahawks and 6 Mosquitos. The Nagara-class nuclear attack submarine RDNS Natori also fired a total of 8 Tomahawks. Dayashinese aerial assets, mostly consisting of Mitsuna Eagle/Kai and IAe Huntress, fired off a total 8 Mosquitos and an assortment of 24 other air-to-ground missiles.
Kolodoria Invades
On paper, Kolodorian forces represented the weakest element of the Coalition's force and the closest to a peer opponent for Vyzhva. Kolodorian lacked cutting edge weapon systems and aircraft, and most of it's ground forces were equipped with similar Letnian-style hardware Vyzhva itself used. However the Kolodorian invasion force was also the largest; nearly 400,000 troops, 3,000 tanks, and nearly 1,500 artillery pieces. Vyzhvan forces stationed near the border numbered just 150,000.
Shortly after Coalition air strikes began hitting Melna, Kolodorian artillery began shelling suspected Vyzhvan positions and staging areas across the border, while the Kolodorian Air Force began launching strikes across the border, supported by Sylvan fighter squadrons. The intention behind the Kolodorian portion of the invasion was to draw away Vyzhvan forces and reserves away from the major urban areas of southern Vyzhva. Kolodorian forces, operating under the formation known as the 1st Western Front, consisted of two Orders and further subdivided into six corps for a total of 19 divisions. Kolodorian forces intended to encircle the bulk of Vyzhvan forces near the Kolodorian border in a sector known as Area of Operations Verdict. Once encircle, reserve corps would then push forward towards Prognoi and the Vyzhvan interior.
Vyzhvan defense planning was centered on a mixture of active and reserve People's Mobilization forces assuming a defensive posture to absorb the initial attack. Vyzhvan planning called for a total of ten divisions, 6 motor rifle divisions, 3 tank divisions, and one artillery division to assume defensive positions among a system of fortifications along the border known as the Ullan Line. Once the initial blows of the invasion had been dealt with, a reserve operational grouping of five divisions (3 motor rifle, 2 tank) would counterattack into Kolodoria. Vyzhvan dispositions however did not match their supposed intentions; just seven divisions were officially stationed near the border.
Opening air strikes and artillery bombardments hammered Vyzhvan positions among the border, preventing local forces from assuming proper defensive positions. Due to Coalition strikes against Vyzhvan higher headquarters, Vyzhvan forces in the east were disorganized and unable to coordinate their efforts effectively. Local commanders attempted to assume positions among the Ullan Line, but Kolodorian artillery and Coalition air strikes had destroyed many of the bunkers and hard points that were supposed to anchor Vyzhva's defensive line. Those positions that were still occupied proved too isolated and outdated to provide effective resistance, and by the end of the first day Kolodorian forces had brushed aside most Vyzhvan forces on the border. Within 36 hours Kolodorian forces had largely overrun Vyzhvan positions in what became known as the Battle of the Ullan Line.
Vyzhvan forces in the east fell under II Corps, and in theory consisted of nearly a dozen divisions, but the slow rate of mobilization and lack of preparation meant that what Vyzhvan forces did take the field were under strength and disorganized. By 19 February Kolodorian shaping operations, such as the Battle of Phase Line Korin, had effectively isolated II Corps from it's strategic reserves and Vyzhvan forces had naturally coalesced into a pocket in the area known as AO Verdict, where they were surrounded by the Kolodorian 15th and 11th Corps. Chronically under strength Vyzhvan formations were unable to contain Kolodorian armored columns, which by day four had reached as far west as Telenoya. With II Corps isolated and unable to effectively resist the Kolodorian, the 1st Western Front was able to unleash the 6th and 25th Corps to push further into Vyzvha. In the north, 8th Corps pushed through Vyzhvan defenses at the Battle of Talia Valley. Within a week of opening hostilities Kolodorian forces had shattered Vyzhvan defenses across the eastern front.
With their upper levels of command in disarray, Vyzhva's vast reserves were unable to take the field, resulting in piece meal units being annihilated as they came into contact with the much larger Kolodorian formations. By 25 February Kolodorian forces were on the peak of surrounding Prognoi. Vyzhvan forces, seemingly aware of the danger of being encircled, attempted to prevent the Kolodorian from doing so. On 26 February the Vyzhvan People's 88th Tank Division, a reserve force utilized outdated Letnian T-58 tanks, attempted to halt the Kolodorian 39th Guards Armored Division from securing the hills south of Prognoi. The 88th ended up being caught in the open and pinned down, where it was decimated by Kolodorian airstrikes and artillery. In the north, the 201st Armored Division routed the paramilitary militia 104th and 105th Peopele's Defense Regiments, securing the western highway out of the city.
Fall of Targan
Northern Campaign
Battle of Prognoi
Vyzhvan forces in Prognoi numbered between 35,000-50,000 troops, but many of these were hastily conscripted citizens with little military training beyond their mandatory conscription service. The Prognoi garrison lacked heavy weapons and armored vehicles, reducing their ability to adequately defend the city. Kolodorian forces for their part refused to commit to a street battle, and retained a loose encirclement around the city. Kolodorian artillery and air strikes targeted Prognoi's infrastructure including it's power grid, sanitation services, and water treatment plants in an effort to force the surrender of the garrison, actions which drew criticism from international aid organizations and human rights groups. Kolodorian commanders defended their decision, arguing that a protracted urban battle was unfeasible given the length of Kolodoria's supply lines.
Vyzhvan forces attempted to break the siege several times to no avail, while Kolodorian artillery continued to reduce much of Prognoi's infrastructure to ruin. Originally the Kolodorian attempted to open a corridor through which civilians could flee the city, but after three days Vyzhvan forces closed down the corridor and began shooting at civilians attempting to escape the city. Caught between Vyzhvan executions and Kolodorian shelling, it is still uncertain how many civilians were killed in the battle. As the days past, the Kolodorians began to steadily push into the city, usually only after flattening entire city blocks with shelling and air strikes.
Prognoi's garrison surrendered on 13 March, the same day that Kupka was captured by Coalition forces. Prognoi's fall, coupled with the liquidation of what was left of the Vyzhvan II Corps, freed up multiple Kolodorian divisions to push further into Vyzhva's interior, while the 6th Corps was able to link up with the 2nd Corps and push on towards the capital of Melna.