Defense forces brace for separatist offensive in northwest; Snezhniy victory hailed as turning point

 Zelenogorsk Pravda

The Voice of the People

DEFENSE FORCES BRACE FOR SEPARATIST OFFENSIVE IN NORTHWEST; SNEZHNIY VICTORY HAILED AS TURNING POINT

By Svetlana Golikova, Senior Defense Correspondent

ZELENOGORSK – Following a decisive defensive victory at Snezhniy that saw separatist armored forces repelled with minimal government casualties, military commanders are now reporting that enemy forces are massing for a major new offensive along a critical frontline axis in Northwestern Chernarus.

According to operational summaries provided to this correspondent, the line running through Bypechkovo, Yashkul’, Pshenichnoye Pole, and Yalmta—a strategic front that saw heavy fighting throughout the winter—is now the anticipated main effort for separatist forces. Intelligence gathered from unmanned aerial vehicle overflights, ground interdiction patrols, and signals monitoring confirms that the enemy is preparing to strike within the coming days.

The report, compiled by Colonel Denis Rozhkov, Deputy Head of Intelligence Staff for the 2nd Army Corps, paints a picture of an enemy that has learned from its recent failures but remains dependent on a mix of conventional armor and hastily mobilized irregulars.

A Decisive Defense at Snezhniy

The assessment follows what military analysts are calling a textbook defensive operation conducted by the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Separate Tank Brigade at Snezhniy. There, government forces successfully repelled separatist attempts to seize the village, suffering what the report describes as a “near-zero” casualty rate among armored and infantry assets.

The same cannot be said for the attacking forces. Field counts confirmed the destruction of three T-55 tanks, two BRDM scout cars, at least two BMP infantry fighting vehicles, and two technicals. Perhaps more telling, pilot reports from Su-25 ground interdiction fighters indicated that an additional 50 percent of enemy vehicle losses were non-combat in nature—the result of mechanical breakdowns and fuel shortages.

Military intelligence attributed the enemy’s poor performance to systemic readiness failures, specifically citing difficulties in transitioning from cold-weather to warm-weather operations.

“The enemy’s mobile forces are struggling with the fundamentals,” one intelligence officer familiar with the assessment told Zelenogorsk Pravda on condition of anonymity. “What should have been a costly engagement for us instead exposed their logistical weaknesses.”

Enemy Regroups, Adds Irregulars

But that window of vulnerability may be closing. Intelligence reports indicate that separatist forces have since conducted extensive vehicle repairs and replacements, restoring their mobile strength to nearly 95 percent of nominal levels. Hundreds of tons of fuel and ammunition are reportedly moving into forward operational areas.

In a significant development, the report details that the upcoming offensive will be augmented by a large irregular component—armed civilians recruited from villages and towns in the northern regions. Intercepted communications, agent reporting, and interrogations of captured enemy personnel have confirmed the recruitment drive.

These reinforcements, described as the equivalent of approximately two platoons in size, are said to be armed primarily with AK-47 variants and scoped hunting rifles. They will advance on foot, lacking vehicles or heavy weapons of their own.

While individually no match for government mobile forces, the report assesses that these irregulars are intended to act as a “force multiplier”—fixing government units in place to create vulnerabilities for enemy armored assets to exploit.

Government Forces Prepare

In response, the 3rd Separate Tank Brigade has adopted a deliberate defensive posture. Commanders will focus on holding the Bypechkovo–Yashkul’–Pshenichnoye Pole–Yalmta line while refraining from offensive operations south of that axis. The strategy, according to the report, is designed to invite the commitment of the enemy’s best tank formations into a prepared defensive engagement.

Further reinforcing the government’s operational depth, the 2nd Army Corps has placed two additional units on heightened standby: elements of the 31st Air Assault Regiment and the 17th Separate Mechanized Cavalry Regiment. These forces will be held at the operational level, ready to launch counterattacks should the situation require.

Operations are set to commence March 26th, according to the timeline outlined in the report.

A Deliberate Approach

Colonel Rozhkov’s assessment concludes that while the enemy retains the initiative for offensive action in the region, government forces are positioned to absorb the coming assault and are prepared to respond with decisive counterstrikes.

“The coming days will test the mettle of our defensive lines,” the report states, “but with reserves at the ready and a clear understanding of enemy intentions, we are prepared to meet the threat.”

As the March 26th timeline approaches, residents of towns along the contested line are advised to remain attentive to official instructions. Military authorities have not yet announced any evacuation orders but stress that the situation remains fluid.

Svetlana Golikova is Zelenogorsk Pravda’s senior defense correspondent, covering military operations in Chernarus since 2019.