Zerino-Stasnovan War (1991)

Zerino-Stasnovan War (1991)
Part of Zerino-Stasnovan Border Conflicts
Clockwise from the top left: Stasnovan motorised riflemen after the battle of Karlovston, Zerinite ZER-11 fighters over North Instrinia, Stasnovan T-74 tanks and mine-clearing vehicle on the road to Skipalon, a Zerinite soldier near Bastion.
Date 3rd March 1991 - 5th May 1991 Location Zerinfrium Result Ceasefire
Belligerents
Stasnov Supported by: Gorbatov	Supported by: Template:Country data Second Grozyar Republic
Commanders and leaders
Anatoly Zakharchenko (Premier, Commander-in-Chief) Nikita Zavrazin (Minister of Defence) Afanasiy Kulagin (Chief of the General Staff) Iosif Malenkov (1st Belovyan Front Commander) Ivan Timoshenko (2nd Belovyan Front Commander)	Template:Country data Zerinfriom Blakurik Takario (Dictator, Emergency Commander-in-Chief) Template:Country data Zerinfriom Albrt Ustrokbrod (Praetor of Defense) Template:Country data Zerinfriom Heinkrad Galbr (Supreme Commander)

The Zerino-Stasnovan War of 1991 (also known as "The Bastion War" in Zerinfriom or "Operation Little Uranus" in Stasnov) was an armed conflict between the Union of Socialist Republics of Stasnov and the Zerinite Federation that took place between the 3rd of March and the 5th of May of that year. The conflict lasted for a total of 63 days, and is seen as one of the last large-scale maneuver conflicts in world history, with over TBD casualties on both sides. The importance of the war is highlighted by the massive scale despite its relatively short duration, as well as the large usage of modern weaponry, and has impacted heavily on the societies and politics of both nations.

The war was predated by intense talks between Stasnovan and Zerinite delegations held in the neutral state of Brytene, that aimed to resolve the matter of disputed lands as well as skirmishes and violations on the border between the two states. The talks broke down after two weeks, and either side withdrew their representatives, with the matter remaining unresolved. The shooting down of a Stasnovan MiG-29 by a Zerinite SAM battery on the border on the 28th of February proved to be the last straw. Three days later, a large Stasnovan invasion force crossed the border and attacked Zerinite units. The Stasnovan advance was swift and brutal, with many Zerinite formations surrounded and cut off, many surrendering but with several fighting to the last. Most notable was the city of Bastion, which despite being cut off, held until the end of the war without being entirely overrun. The Stasnovan advance continued north, but a counter-attack by fresh Zerinite reserves slowed and eventually bogged down the attackers. Reinforcements where called from the mainland USRS, and on the Zerinite side they were called from the reserves as well as the Western Theater, but the Contwaraburg Accords where signed before they could arrive, ending the conflict. The Accords saw the withdrawal of all Stasnovan troops back into Stasnov, and the enforcement of war reparations on Zerinfriom.

Prelude

Blakurik's rise to power

Blakurik Takario, the Dictator of Zerinfriom from 1990-2000, was an Imperial Guard Chief Lieutenant who conducted a coup simultaneously as the members of the "Old Guard Plot" having infiltrated the group being the youngest member involved. He and the chief conspirator (tba) decided that rather and "old man" a young man with many experienced advisers would be better for the country as Dictator for Life. The coup seized the senate and the Praetoriet during a combined meeting causing a state of national emergency to be declared, all the while opening up the position of Dictator. At gun point he forced all the Senators and and Praetors to name him as Dictator due to the National Emergency clause. He then had it pushed through the (tba) stating that it was lawful. By going through loopholes he became Dictator with the full backing of the military and the Federal Guard. Making him the most powerful man in the Federation.

The USRS watched the events in Zerinfriom closely. Recently declassified reports of KGB "illegals" that were in the Federation at the show the great attention the Stasnovan intelligence agencies. Many of the reports mentioned that the civil war could erupt in the country, and that the situation should be exploited. However, no further action was taken by the Stasnovan government, at least from what is publicly known. Professor Irina Tukhhasevskaya of the Kosmopol State University suggested in 2017 - the year that the reports were declassified - that some reports are still not public, and that they may detail more direct Stasnovan action in Zerinfriom. However, her statement was immediately countered by the University leadership and Party officials, who claimed that no direct Stasnovan actions was taken.

The War

Opposing Forces

Stasnovan forces:

For the invasion, the Stasnovan Revolutionary Army formed the 1st Belovyan Front (Front is the equivalent of Army Group in the Stasnovan Armed Force) out of the 3rd Guards Shock Army, the 4th Army, the 5th Guards Shock Army and the 2nd Guards Tank Army. In total, these accounted for 10 Motorised Rifle Divisions, 6 Tank Divisions and 5 Artillery Brigades, which, including personnel of supporting units, made up a force of roughly 230,000 troops. In addition to the Army troops, were the following VDV formations: 6,554 paratroopers of the 16th Guards Airborne Division, as well as the 12th Guards and 23rd Airmobile Assault Brigades, with 1,850 men each. The 2nd Belovyan Front was also formed, roughly the same size as the 1st, and was intended to act as the second echelon to the invasion. However, due to the ceasefire, it was never involved in the fighting.

The Stasnovan Revolutionary Air Force provided most of the air assets for the invasion, though the Revolutionary Navy's Naval Aviation was also involved. The VVS' Frontal Aviation Command took part with the 6th and 7th Guards Fighter-Bomber Divisions as well as the 2nd Assault Aviation Division. This amounted for a total of 270 fighter and fighter-bomber aircraft, mostly MiG-29s (A and S variants), Su-27s (S and P variants), MiG-23s (MLD variants), MiG-27s (K and M variants) and Su-24s (mostly M variants), as well as 135 Su-25 close-air-support aircraft. The Air Defence Command (PVO) provided the 11th Composite Air Defence Division, with 90 MiG-25 (mostly PD variants) and MiG-31s, while the 23rd Military Transport Aviation Regiment of VTA (Military Transport Aviation Command) provided 45 Il-76s and An-12s that would deploy the 16th Guards VDV Division. Long-Range Aviation Command had a relatively small participation, with only 38 Tu-22M3s of the 123rd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment taking part in the invasion.

The Revolutionary Navy's surface participation in the war was centered around the 3rd Operational Squadron under Counter-Admiral Andrey I. Kirilenko, though surface vessels outside the 3rd OS also took part. The task force consisted of SRNS Krasnaya Belovya, a Kirov-class battlecruiser that served as the flagship, the Slava-class cruisers SRNS Rabotnik and SRNS Krestyanin, the Kresta II-class cruisers SRNS Serp and SRNS Malikov, the modified Kashin-class destroyer SRNS Gordyy, the Udaloy-class destroyers SRNS Zelenyy, the Sovremenyy-class destroyers SRNS Reshayushchiy, SRNS Yarostnyy and SRNS Radikal as well as the then recently-refitted Krivak IV-class frigates SRNS Giyena and SRNS Yaguar. The objective of the 3rd Operational Squadron is to sail towards Zerinopolis and counter any Zerinite fleet movements. Meanwhile, the Stasnovan submarine operations in the war consisted of Akula-class nuclear attack subs K-680 through K-685, the Sierra II-class nuclear attack subs K-662 through K-666, and the Oscar II-class cruiser missile attack subs K-553 to K-556. The then recently-formed 43rd Maratime Bomber Aviation Regiment of the Naval Aviation also took part, with its 38 Tu-22M3 heavy bombers, and performed raids on Zerinite naval forces.

Zerinite forces:

Stasnovan invasion

The invasion started at 7 PM on the 3rd of March, as soon as the daylight was deemed sufficient by Stasnovan commanders. The Stasnovan invasion began with a massive preparatory barrage by Front and Army-level artillery units, as well missile strikes from the Front's Surface-to-Surface Missile Brigade. The missile strikes hit the Karksdon and FB-12 airbases, as well as several radar stations and army bases near the border. Fighter-Bombers of the 7th Guards IBAD entered Zerinite airspace as soon as the artillery barrage started, and strikes targets with guided and unguided munitions, and special attention was given to radar and SAM sites, as well as Zerinite airfields. Most notable was the Bastion airbase, that managed only to get half a dozen fighters in the air before most other aircraft stationed there were destroyed on the ground by the 458th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment's MiG-27Ms.

At 7:15, 20 Il-76s with a 15-fighter escort took off from Velka-2 air base near Kamishovo, carrying the 1,473 men of the 17th Guards Airborne Regiment (16th Guards VDV Division). The transport aircraft took advantage of the chaos caused by the Stasnovan invasion to get past Zerinite air defenses. However, one Il-76 was shot down by a Zerinite SAM, with all 120 paratroopers and 3 crew on-board being killed. The transports managed to reach their drop point at 7:21, the town of Kilbi, that was located on a vital crossroads behind the main Zerinite lines on Highway E10 and were able to deploy their payload. The 17th Guards VDV engaged the MILITIA and reservist Zerinite forces in the town, and overwhelmed them in about 20 minutes, taking the town and several prisoners.

The ground offensive started at 7:30 PM. The Motor Rifle Divisions of the 4th Army and 5th Guards Shock and 6th Guards Armies advanced in nine different "spear-tips", with their respective Tank Divisions following closely behind. The 2nd Guards Tank Army was retained in the rear of the main advance, as the Front's operational manoeuvre group (OMG), and was also reinforced by the 212nd Independent Tank Brigade.

The 5th Guards Shock Army - the southernmost army in the invasion advancing through The Krag plains- managed to encircle the Zerinite Armored and Infantry Divisions before they could assemble a defensive line or retreat, creating was was later known as the Micro Sector 99 Pocket, and the 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division was left behind to isolate the pocket. The rest of the 5th Guards Shock engaged the 4th Legion and slowly pushed them back, however no breakthrough was made in the first day of the invasion. The 23rd Airmobile Assault Brigade also deployed on the 5th Guards Shock Army's sector, deploying with their helicopters near the town of [TBD] behind Zerinite lines with little hindrance. However, it was immediately counter attacked by the until-then concealed tanks of the 2nd Armored Lagion at took heavy casualties, including many of its BMD infantry fighting vehicles and officer cadre, notably the second-in-command Major Nikita Orlov. The 23rd held on the town for an hour before the lead Regiments of the 5th Guards Shock Army reached them and drove the Zerinites back. By then, it had been reduced to 40% of its original strength.

The 4th Army and 6th Guards met more organised resistance to the north, facing the 5th Legion and 10th Legion. After several hours of fighting, the 4th Army's 16th Motor Rifle Division reported a breakthrough in its sector at 15:34 PM, and the 85th Guards Tank Division was sent in to expand and capitalize upon it, while the OMG was being called up. The Zerinites counter-attacked with 12th Armored Lagion and 15th Mechanized Lagion to seal the breach, but the 16th Motor Rifle and the 85th Guards Tank held, with the first units of the 2nd Guards Tank Army arriving after half an hour, at 16:04 PM. The tanks of the OMG went through the breakthrough point and overrun the counter-attacking Zerinites, pouring through the 10th Legion rear areas. A desperate counter-attack by the 17th Armored Lagion was halted in the Battle of Griskby, the largest armoured engagement of the war. The Zerinite 10th Legion collapsed under the pressure and was forced to pull back, however, the 2nd Guards Tank Army's elements had cut off their escape route and had also made their and had also cut off a significant part of the 5th Legion as well, which was trapped in the city of Bastion.

An engagement of particular note during the first day was the action near Karlovston, where the skirmish that helped sparked the war took place. The town was being evacuated by Zerinite helicopters when a forward element of the 17th Motor Rifle Division approached from the south. The helicopters retreated as the Stasnovans entered the town's perimeter. The Stasnovan recon troops and the accompanying armour immediately started taking fire from buildings, at which point the Stasnovans retreated. A company of 10 T-82Us from the Divisional Tank Regiment (263rd Tank Regiment) shelled the town for about 15 minutes, and the MILITIA and MILPOL defenders retreated into the nearby Ulter Woord. The Divisional commander ordered the motor riflemen to clear the forest without armoured support as the vehicles didn't have enough space to maneuver through the trees. The Stasnovans encountered heavy fire from the dug-in Zerinites who knew the woods well. After a half-hour standoff, the Zerinites had ran out of ammunition and charged with bayonets, shovels, knives and whatever they could get their hands on. The Stasnovans managed to destroy them Zerinite force in the ensuing melee but with considerable casualties to themselves, and only after the last Zerinite had fallen. A memorial now stands at the site honoring the dead on both sides of the battle.

The first day of the invasion ended with the 10th Legion was cut off, and the creation of the Micro Sector 87 pocket, while the 5th Legion managed to escape with roughly 60% of its strength, the rest being trapped in the Bastion pocket. Zerinite total casualties were [TBD] while the Stasnovans had suffered 3,200 casualties.

Siege of Bastion

The city of Bastion and the immediate area around it contained about [TBD] Zerinite personnel of the [TBD-2 Zerinite Divisions or Brigades], the remnants of the 5th Legion. They were surrounded by elements of the 2nd Guards Tank Army, which were replaced by the 4th Army's 16th Motor Rifle Division on the second day as the 2nd Guards TA continued its advance northwards. The 16th MRD , even though outnumbered by the trapped Zerinites, managed to tighten the Stasnovan grip around the city, taking advantage of the defenders disarrayed command structure. The town of [TBD], a small farming community northeast of the city fell in the afternoon of the second day, while the 12th Guards Airmobile Assault Brigade arrived from the southwest and helped push the Zerinites into the western suburbs.

On the third day, the remaining Regiments of the 16th Guards VDV Division (15th and 16th Guards Airborne Regiments) were paradropped to the north by Il-76 aircraft and forced the encircled Zerinites into the northern outskirts. By the 4th day, the Stasnovan encirclement forces slightly outnumbered the defenders, and started pushing into the suburbs from all sides. The VDV paratroopers were notably more efficient than the Motor Riflemen in the house-to-house and street-to-street combat that ensued, pushing deep into Bastion in their respective sectors, while the 16th MRD had trouble pushing in the southeast.

The 5th through 9th days were marked by a brutal Stasnovan air campaign by aircraft the 6th Guards Fighter-Bomber Division and 2nd Assault Aviation Division above in the pocket, performing strikes with precision munitions as well as dumb bombs on the entrenched Zerinites. On the 10th and 11th days, Stasnovan forces with the help of air support had managed to get past the suburbs and engaged into heavy close quarters fighting with the Zerinites in the more heavily urbanized areas. On the 12th day, it seemed as if the paratroopers of the 15th Guards VDV could force the defenders in the northern [TBD] district of the city to buckle and fall back, opening a breakthrough. However, the Zerinite forces in the city had reorganized under the command of [TBD-probably a Major General idk] and a concentrated counter-attack by the [TBD-Zerinite Battalion] on the eastern flank of the VDV advanced made the Stasnovans fall back into their previous positions closer to the suburbs.

Bastion had turned into a fight of attrition, and requests for reinforcements made by the 16th MRD's commander and overall commander of the forces in the city, Major General Igor Dostoyevsky, were denied by the STAVKA (Stasnovan High Command).

The Wall and the Zerinite counterattack

The Wall is the nickname given to the Jouteiheim River Defense Line, a line of outposts, fortresses, and defense stations and depots that stretches along the the north bank of the wide Jouteinheim up to nearby the large mountain by the same name. as Stasnovan forces pushed forward and closer to the Wall, they became bogged down as reserves from the central forces pushed in as well as a few mobilized reservists to push the Stasnovan advance back. The counterattack began near Fort Hardrada, a artillery depot, with a massive artillery barrage larger than the last massive artillery barrage on Zerinite soil from the (tba) War with a astounding (tba) pieces and (tba) self propelled guns and Howitzers involved; not including mortar teams, as well as a large amount of armored vehicles back up by the Sutrm Korps. A quote from General Harold "Silver Hair" Hortig in a interview for the famous Documentary Series "Short Wars and Battles of Massive Importance" stated "We then introduced them to another one of our tactics. Shock Combat. Sturm Troopers charged screaming battle cries not hear in decades and we showed them what Zerinite lead tasted like. Oh by the Gods we did."