By Svetlana Golikova, Zelenogorsk Pravda
February 5, 2025
ZELENOGORSK — Classified documents leaked from the Chernarus Ministry of Defense reveal a harrowing account of tactical blunders, catastrophic losses, and a fragile recovery during recent military operations in the contested Cham region. The reports, marked OP2501-31-2 (Trosendorf) and OP2501-31-3 (Ast), detail two high-stakes battles waged by the Chernarus 33rd Separate Mountain Motorized Rifle Brigade’s 2nd Battalion. A subsequent evaluation by the 43rd Mountain Rifle Corps condemns systemic failures in leadership and planning, raising urgent questions about the military’s readiness to counter separatist forces.
Operation Trosendorf: A "Catastrophic" Defeat
On the morning of January 31, the 2nd Battalion launched Operation Trosendorf, targeting a separatist anti-aircraft unit in the village of Trosendorf. The mission quickly unraveled.
Tactical Missteps:
The brigade split its forces into two assault groups—one advancing from the southwest with Tank 1 and Command Squad, the other from the southeast with Tank 2, 2nd Squad, and 3rd Squad. This divided approach allowed enemy militias (composed of Serbian regulars, Chechen fighters, and Russian-backed mercenaries) to isolate and overwhelm both flanks. Command Squad, led by the battalion commander, faced relentless counterattacks as they pushed northeast. Despite destroying one enemy technical (improvised fighting vehicle), the squad was decimated after their BTR armored personnel carrier was obliterated.
Leadership Under Fire:
The commander’s decision to halt the advance to repair Tank 1—rather than consolidate gains—proved fatal. As mechanics worked, separatists regrouped, launching coordinated strikes from three directions. Command Squad and 3rd Squad were annihilated, the commander killed, and Tank 1 abandoned. The surviving forces retreated under heavy fire, ceding the village.
Losses:
75%+ casualties in Command and 3rd Squads.
Both BRDM scout cars and Tank 1 destroyed.
Enemy losses: 4 BTR-80As, 3 anti-aircraft trucks, 2 T-34 tanks.
Ironically, separatists abandoned Trosendorf the next day, fearing Chernarus air strikes—a retreat unrelated to the brigade’s failed assault.
Operation Ast: A Pyrrhic Victory
Two days later, the battered 2nd Battalion redeployed to Ast, another village housing anti-aircraft emplacements. Under a new acting commander, the operation narrowly succeeded—but at a steep cost.
Adaptive Tactics:
Learning from Trosendorf, the battalion advanced along a single axis from the southwest. Command Squad and Tank 1 spearheaded the assault, while BRDM scouts screened the eastern flank. Despite 2nd and 3rd Squads refusing to advance (a recurring discipline issue), the force cleared Ast of enemy positions. Tank 2 was sacrificed to destroy an aircraft truck, while RPG-18 teams eliminated three anti-aircraft units.
Critical Intel Secured:
Command Squad recovered documents outlining separatist plans to seize Trosendorf, Ast, and other villages—a strategic coup. However, counterattacks by Spanish and Serbian regulars nearly overran the battalion. Reinforcements, including outdated T-34 tanks, barely stabilized the front.
Losses:
Tank 2 destroyed, Scout 1 BRDM damaged.
Command Squad lost 5; Rifle Squad 1 wiped out.
Enemy losses: 4 BTR-80As, 3 aircraft trucks, 2 UAVs.
43rd Corps Evaluation: "Systemic Shortcomings Demand Rectification"
A scathing after-action review by the 43rd Mountain Rifle Corps (dated February 3) highlights institutional failures:
Leadership Deficits:
Officers lacked flexibility to adapt to fluid battles.
Poor discipline (e.g., squads “bogged down” or refusing orders).
Outdated Arsenal:
T-34 tanks and undergunned BTRs struggled against modern insurgent technicals and drones.
Intelligence Gaps:
No warning of foreign militias (Spanish/Serbian troops) in Ast.
Logistical Neglect:
Armored vehicles lacked anti-UAV systems, leaving squads vulnerable.
The report mandates urgent reforms: retraining officers, upgrading equipment, and preempting separatist moves using captured intel.
Implications: A Military at a Crossroads
While Ast secured Chernarus’ hold on Cham, the 43rd Corps warns that “ad hoc adaptations” cannot offset poor planning. The leaked files expose a force reliant on Soviet-era hardware and fractured command chains—a stark contrast to separatists leveraging foreign fighters and agile tactics.
Local Impact:
Civilian accounts from Trosendorf describe a village scarred by bombardment, now occupied by Chernarus troops. Meanwhile, the recovered separatist documents suggest looming battles for nearby towns.
Questions Unanswered:
Why were reinforcements delayed in Trosendorf?
Will the Defense Ministry act on the 43rd Corps’ recommendations?
The Defense Ministry has not commented on the leaks.
Conclusion:
These documents paint a grim portrait of courage hamstrung by bureaucracy. For the soldiers of the 33rd Brigade, victory in Ast came at a horrific price—one that could repeat unless Chernarus confronts its military’s deepening crises.
Svetlana Golikova is an investigative reporter for Zelenogorsk Pravda specializing in defense affairs. Additional reporting contributed by open-source intelligence analysts.
This is based on the Arma 3 wargame. The report and reporter are AI generated and represents no individual, living or dead. The text of the transcript, while AI generated, is based on data provided by the channel author.
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