Battle of Kunhegyes

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Battle of Kunhegyes
Part of Zemplen War
BattleofKunhegyes.jpg
Syaran troops in the outskirts of Kunhegyes
Date21 October 2008 - 4 July 2009
Location
Kunhegyes,
Kunhegyes Distrct, Ruvelka
Result Syaran Victory
Belligerents
Ruvelka Syara
Commanders and leaders
Péter Novák Nikodemos Cvetkov
Vladislav Ivov Kochanov
Units involved
1st Kunhegyes Front 3rd Army
Strength
300,000 troops 275,000 troops
Casualties and losses
36,901 killed
79,125 wounded
50,000 captured
32,842 killed
77,857 wounded

The Battle of Kunhegyes was fought from 21 October, 2008 to 4 July, 2009 between Syara and Ruvelka during the Zemplen War.

Following the Battle of Sarud in early Autumn 2008, the Syaran 3rd Army began offensive operations toward the city of Kunhegyes intent on a pincer movement against the forces of Ruvelkan Army Group North under the command of General Péter Novák. Syaran hopes to bypass the city to the north were frustrated by strong Ruvelkan defenses, leading to a protracted stalemate for the remainder of 2008. During the Ruvelkan Winter Counter-Offensive the Ruvelkans of the 1st Kunhegyes Front succeeded in driving back Syara across the front line of 3rd Army, but in the spring Syaran counter-strokes gradually took back ground in the direction of Kunhegyes.

During the Syaran Spring Offensives Field Marshal Nikodemos Cvetkov, commander of Army Group Alpha, ordered Colonel General Vladislav Ivov Kochanov's 3rd Army to attack in the direction of Kunhegyes to pin down Ruvelkan forces, allowing 7th Army to advance east towards Soltvadkert. The Syarans succeeding in pushing the Ruvelkans back towards the city itself but were unable to effectively surround it until 7th Army returned following it's battle. By June the Syarans had Kunhegyes surrounded on all sides, but Novák attempted to hold the city by launching several breakout attempts and assaults against the Syaran encirclement. Syaran forces rocketed the city and shelled critical infrastructure with heavy artillery, leaving the city without power. By the start of July Ruvelkan forces within Kunhegyes had exhausted their ammunition while Ruvelkan forces outside were unable to break the siege; with Syaran forces pressing in Novák broke off relief efforts and the garrison surrendered on 4 July.

The loss of the city, along with the Battle of Kaposvár was a blow to Ruvelkan morale and largely overshadowed Syaran operational failures during the Spring Offensive, although the latter would end up having a larger impact on the war's outcome.