2021 Kozelsk War

2021 Kozelsk War
Part of Kozelsk Territorial Dispute
Map of Kozelsk showing the extent of Ordian incursions
Date 28 August - 25 September 2021 Location Kozelsk Result Csongrád Accord signed on 25th of September, both sides claim victory
Belligerents
Ziridava Supported by: Miscatie Helligland	Ordia Supported by: Template:Country data Ostrovic Union Edavia
Commanders and leaders
Evgeni Mihov (President, Commander-in-Chief) Kliment Genov Minister of Defense Kiril Deliivanov Chief of the General Staff	Marko Jánošík (President) Pavo Malinovsky (General of the OAF)
Units involved
Republic of Ziridava Ground Forces Republic of Ziridava Air Force Republic of Ziridava Special Operations Force	Ordian Army Ordian Air Force
Strength
<35,000 troops	76,984 troops
Casualties and losses
TBD (Ziridavan claims) TBD (Ordian claims)	TBD (Ordian claims) TBD (Ziridavan claims)
Total civilians casualties: 76 killed, 229 wounded (Ziridavan claim) XX killed, XX wounded (OCN sources)

The 2021 Kozelsk War, also known as the Eleven Day War, began in the disputed region of Kozelsk on August 28 2021 between Ziridava and Ordia. The war began after a series of smaller skirmishes on the border in Kozelsk, which is a de facto province of Ziridava, but is claimed by Ordia. Although both sides have made their own claims on how the war began, most believe it began after a skirmish occured between two border patrols after both country's presidents warned of retaliation, after weeks of repeated incidents of similar calibre. The war was the biggest escalation of violence in the region since the 90s, and has damaged relations not only between Ziridava and Ordia, but also between EDEN and the Vastava Pact.

The war ended when a ceasefire was agreed on by Ziridavan and Ordian delegates in Csongrád, Granzery. After the ceasefire went into effect, both sides continued to blame each other for starting hostilities, as well as claiming victory. While Ordia claims to have prevented a Ziridavan first strike, Ziridavan officials claim that the RZAF successfully repelled an Ordian operation to annex parts of the region.

Background

Ziridavan HMMWV patrolling in Kozelsk

Main Article: Kozelsk Territorial Dispute

Beginning of hostilities

At around 1 AM local time, a firefight broke out between Ordian and Ziridavan border guards north of Vas, which lasted about 30 minutes. Although both sides accuse each other of initiating the fight, the Ordian government nonetheless ordered the army to begin a multi-front attack on Kozelsk. At around 4 AM, the attack began with Ordian howitzers, mortars, and rocket artillery engaging Ziridavan positions along the border. The air force also conducted sorties against ground targets as the Ordian army began it's advance. Artillery also fired explosive and smoke arounds in other areas where they did not advance to create diversions, however these feints were detected through Ziridavan reconnaissance drones operating at the time. Ziridavan ground radars had also detected the take-off of many Ordian jets before the attack began. In response, the Ziridavan air force was ordered to prepare aircraft to take off within minutes.

Video snapshot of Ziridavan border guards surrendering to Ordian forces

At the onset of the offensive, several Ziridavan forces guarding the border were overwhelmed by the Ordians. Soon after though, all units in the known Ordian paths were ordered to retreat back as all forces in Kozelsk were mobilized. Ordian ground forces moved aggressively in their initial assault. Although several Ziridavan units near the front managed to repel attacks, Ordian forces would maneuver around these units instead of continuing to fight. Ordian tactics generally consisted of either manoeuvring to evade or out flank, or using overwhelming firepower against smaller units. Ziridavan air forces were also scrambled, with both sides scrambling their VeK-29s towards Kozelsk to intercept each other. Although Ziridavan VeK-29MU1s were equipped with R-27s and R-73s, modernized MU2 variants were equipped with AIM-120C missiles, while most Ordian VeK-29s were equipped with R-77s. Thus, the Ziridavan air force opted to remain further back at standoff distances, using their range advantage to put ground-based air defenses between them and the Ordian air forces.

Once the majority of Ziridavan forces in Kozelsk began engaging Ordian forces, the latter's offensive quickly stopped. Throughout the daytime on the 28th, Ziridavan forces armed with modern ATGMs such as the ALA-20 and MMP ambushed Ordian armour columns in the forests and from other advantageous terrain. Although infantry AT hunter-killer teams were used more often, modern tanks such as the T-74M2V and recently procued CAV-10GI Scorpion were sent to spearhead counterattacks, with older T-742Vs following behind. Ordian armoured forces were mainly equipped with T-74S1s, which were only superior to the Ziridavan's T-742Vs. However, if they weren't targeted by ATGMs, they were most often facing CAV-10GIs or T-74M2Vs, which were much more modern in nearly every aspect. The Ziridavans also capitalized on their advantage in night fighting capabilities, often sending armoured forces equipped with thermal sights to attack at night against Ordian armour, which were usually only equipped with older night sights. Although most non-reserve Ziridavan infantry units were equipped with PVS-14 night vision goggles, Ziridavan SSO forces in the eastern forests were especially used their advantage as best as possible, performing hit and run attacks on Ordian logistics and command forces at night, as well as harassing infantry units which were sleeping.

By the end of the 3rd day of the war, Ziridavan forces had begun counterattacking after grinding the Ordian offensive to a halt. The Ziridavan spearheads were equipped with some of the best equipment available, most of which outclassed what the Ordian forces had deployed. Ordian forces had also taken significant losses from ambushes conducted by Ziridavan infantry, using hit and run tactics to attack Ordian columns, then retreat to ambush other forces later. Constant attacks on Ordian logistics had also taken their toll, hampering their ability to advance further into Kozelsk. Ordian mechanized forces in the east near Lozen had especially been hit hard by Ziridavan armour, forcing them to retreat back to the border only 4 days after the war began. The most successful Ordian attack was to the north of Kastaj. Although their attack stalled and were forced to retreat from a majority of their gains, they were able to dig in not far from the border and resist Ziridavan attacks until the war ended. Forces north of Alfatar were also able to do this, although to a lesser extent.

Ordian 9K37 Buk destroyed by a Ziridavan Kharop loitering munition

Both sides made extensive use of drones from the beginning. However, Ziridava was equipped with both combat drones and loitering drones, unlike Ordia's inventory of only reconnaissance drones. The Ziridavan air force capitalized on their advantage throughout the war, using Kharop and Kharpiya suicide drones to destroy Ordian air defences, logistics routes, and C4I infrastructure. According to the Ziridavan MoD, the widespread usage of drones was "overwhelmingly successful", claiming that a majority of Ordian Pantsirs and Buks destroyed were targeted by them.

Vas

Main Article: Battle of Vas (2021)

Gravan

Main Article: Battle of Gravan (2021)

Lozen

Main Article: Battle of Lozen

Alfatar

Main Article: Battle of Alfatar (2021)

Kastaj

Main Article: Battle of Kastaj

Orders of battle

Ziridava

Ground force

First Army

• 1st Infantry Division
  • 1st Paratrooper Brigade
  • 71st Airmobile Infantry Brigade
  • 1st Aviation Brigade
    • 1st Attack Helicopter Battalion
    • 1st Army Aviation Battalion
• 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division
  • 24th Armoured Brigade
  • 33rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade
  • 34th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
• 20th Armoured Division
  • 21st Armoured Brigade
  • 23rd Armoured Brigade
  • 25th Armoured Brigade

IV Army Corps

• 50th Mechanized Infantry Brigade

III Army Corps

• 10th Mechanized Infantry Brigade

National Guard Command

• 79th Mechanized Guard Brigade
• 80th Mechanized Guard Brigade

Air force

• 110th Combat Wing
  • 337th Fighter Squadron (VeK-29MU1)
  • 1st Unmanned Aircraft Squadron
• 111th Combat Wing
  • 330th Fighter Squadron – (VeK-29MU1)
  • 341st Fighter Squadron (VeK-29MU2)
• 116th Combat Wing
  • 335th Fighter Squadron (VeK-29MU2)
  • 338th Attack Squadron (Lu-25Z/KO)
• 380th Airborne Early Warning & Control Squadron
• 350th Guided Missile Wing
  • 11th Guided Missile Squadron – (S-300, Crotale NG)
  • 26th Guided Missile Squadron – (PPSD-20, Crotale NG)
  • 24th Guided Missile Squadron – (PPSD-20)

Special operations force

• 140th Special Operations Forces
• 3rd Special Purpose Regiment "Грифин" (Grifin)
• 16th Information Warfare and Psychological Operations Center
• 72nd Information Warfare and Psychological Operations Center

Ordia

Army

• 1st Infantry Division
• 1st Armoured Regiment
  • 1st Armoured Battalion
    • 2nd Tank Company

• 4th Infantry Division (Gravan)

• 14th Mechanized Brigade (Lozen)

• 7th Infantry Division (Alfatar)

• 2nd Mechanized Division (Kastaj)
• 3rd Armoured Division (Kastaj)
• 15th Mechanized Brigade (Kastaj)

International reactions

• Temischa:

• Acronia:

• Stasnov:

• Gorbatov:

• Granzery: Before the wars starting, the Granzerian government offered neutral grounds for mediation regarding the Kozelsk issue. During the war Granzery continually called for peace within the OCN. Fearing fighting spilling over into the Barbican sea, Granzerian naval and air forces were placed on high alert for the duration of the war, warning that conflict spilling into the neutral sea and disrupting normal shipping for neutral countries would be unacceptable. Ultimately Granzerian calls for peace would lead ceasefire delegations to Csongrád, Granzery to sign a mutual ceasefire.

• Elesar: Elesarian officials have stressed the need for calm in Kozelsk, citing the regional dispute as "a situation which no one wishes to see escalated."