By Svetlana Golikova, Senior Defense Writer, Zelenogorsk Pravda
NOVIGRAD – In a terse and carefully worded press conference Monday morning at Chernarus Naval Forces Headquarters, senior military officials from the Chernarus Coastal Operations Group (ChCOG) revealed details of intensified armored combat in North Zagoria, confirmed the seizure of so-called “hit lists” by their forces, and acknowledged a new engineering deployment to the contested Garmanda region.
The briefing, held at 0700 hours, was led by Rear Admiral Igor Kasatonov, ChCOG Commander for Intelligence, who was joined by a panel of senior army and engineering officers. While the Admiral projected confidence in ongoing tank operations, his responses to questions regarding civilian targeting and future military planning were notably guarded.
ARMORED DOMINANCE, BUT AT A COST
Admiral Kasatonov opened by detailing four separate engagements over the past week involving the 10th Separate Tank Brigade. He reported that government forces had recaptured three towns—Novoselovka Pervaya, Panteleimonovka, and Volnovakha—and prevented the capture of a fourth settlement at Shirokoye.
“10th Tank Brigade maintains a dominance on the battlefield and has severely crippled the enemy in their operations,” Kasatonov said. “Our troops in North Zagoria are well trained and well supplied.”
When pressed by this reporter, Anna Rodicheva of Zelenogorsk Pravda, about heavy armor losses reported by sources at Shirokoye and Volnovakha, the Admiral offered a starkly different assessment.
“Combined losses for those two operations, irreplaceable losses, totals one,” Kasatonov replied. “The other damaged armored vehicles were quickly recovered and are being repaired.”
He declined to elaborate on broader casualty figures, stating only that losses were “expected and necessary.”
‘HIT LISTS’ CONFIRMED, NO WARNINGS FOR CIVILIANS
Galina Timchenko of Chernarus Radio Channel 1 pressed the Admiral on unverified social media reports alleging that government forces had seized documents resembling execution lists.
Kasatonov confirmed the seizure. “I can confirm that we did seize a number of hit lists,” he said. “But I cannot describe the actual detailed content. They involved local citizens, both victims and perpetrators.”
When asked whether intelligence staff had warned potential targets among the civilian population, the Admiral’s response drew a sharp line.
“Our citizens residing in these regions are very well aware of the dangers they face because of their politics, their relations, or other social factors,” Kasatonov said. “So, no, we do not want to tip off citizens about potential dangers. Our enemy monitors these conferences.”
The statement left several reporters visibly unsettled. No further details on the lists’ origins or specific targets were provided.
ENGINEERING TEAMS UNDER FIRE IN GARMANDA
The focus then shifted north. In response to media reports of fresh operations in the remote Garmanda region, Admiral Kasatonov introduced Colonel Aleksandr Polovtsev, commander of the 9th Separate Light Mountain Rifle Brigade, and Colonel Irina Volkova, ChCOG Senior Staff Engineer Analyst.
Colonel Polovtsev confirmed that his 2nd Battalion has been deployed to Garmanda, but he emphasized their mission is strictly defensive: providing security for military engineering reconnaissance.
Colonel Volkova described the challenging terrain—dense forests, no improved roads, rugged highlands—and revealed that her lightly armed engineering teams have already come under enemy fire.
“Our teams have come under enemy fire and have withdrawn simply because they are too few and very lightly armed,” Volkova said. “My engineering teams have been conducting patrols to map out the region and to get some kind of idea of what the separatists are planning.”
ARTILLERY DEPLOYMENT RAISES QUESTIONS
When Ms. Timchenko noted reports that an artillery battery from the 9th Brigade Artillery had also deployed to Garmanda—hardly a necessity for “simple engineering surveys”—Colonel Polovtsev declined to answer.
“You all know I can’t discuss operations as they are going on,” he said.
Asked directly whether artillery has already engaged the enemy, Polovtsev offered only: “No comment.”
The exchange underscored growing speculation that Garmanda may become the next flashpoint in the conflict. Separatists currently hold approximately 65% of the region’s terrain, according to Colonel Polovtsev.
INTELLIGENCE BLACKOUT
Admiral Kasatonov refused to answer any questions regarding the separatists’ future military plans for North Zagoria, citing enemy monitoring of the press conference.
“The enemy listens in, so I am fairly certain they want to know what we know,” he said. “We will not be releasing any information about how we perceive the separatists’ military plans.”
As the briefing concluded, one fact was clear: Chernarus’s military is fighting on multiple fronts, both in the tank country of North Zagoria and in the dark forests of Garmanda. But the full scope of those operations—and the true toll they are taking—remains shrouded in operational secrecy.
— Svetlana Golikova is the senior defense writer for Zelenogorsk Pravda, covering military affairs and national security.