Rovski-Zaporizhian Separation

The Rovski-Zaporizhian Separation (: Rovski-Zaporoško Razdvajanje) (: Ровско-Запорожское отделение), also known as the Southeastern Artemian Wars were a number of separate but related wars that resulted in the division of the United Provinces of Rovsnoska and Zaporizhia into three separate states from 1994-1998. Most of the wars ended through peace accords, involving full international recognition of new states, but with a massive human cost and economic damage to the region.

Initially the United Provincial People's Army (UPPA) sought to preserve the unity of the whole of the UPRZ by crushing the secessionist governments, but it increasingly came under the influence of the Zaporizhian government of Dirkiv Tochinki, which evoked Zaporizhian rhetoric and was willing to use the UPRZ cause to preserve the unity of Zaporizhians. Multiple foreign nations sent aid to sides that would support their strategic advantages, ideological interests, or simply keep their borders secure. As a result, the UPPA began to lose, , and , while maintaining the loyalty of , effectively becoming a Zaporizhian army.

Often described as Artemia's deadliest conflicts since the Veikan Civil War, the war was marked by many, including , and. The Kyrzhelovski genocide was the first Artemian crime to be formally classified as genocidal in character since the Central Artemian War.

Background
Clear ethnic conflict between the ethnicities of the UPRZ only became prominent in the 20th century, beginning with tensions and conflict during the Vojiskiy War in the early 1920s and escalating into violence between Rovsnoski, Zaporizhians, and Kyrzhelovski. After the United Provinces of Rovsnoska and Zaporizhia formed in 1926 discontent among ethnic groups became an immediate issue, with Kyrzhelovski, Peremorovkars, Dzhokarians, and various other minorities of the UPRZ not being represented in the provinces as well as Rovsnoski and Zaporizhians being much more prominent in positions of authority. Attempts to convert these minorities to speaking Yarovan and Rovsnoski only worsened to issue. In 1928 the Volkovist Provinces of Kryzhelovschina, VP Peremorovka, and VP Dzhokaria were formed alongside the VP Zaporizhia and VP Rovsnoska quelling much of the dissatisfaction. VP Pozrika would be integrated into the union after the Białemorze Conflict

When Minister of Interior Andre Marchotov became President of the UPRZ after the death of Kurchatov in January 6, 1929, a of possible enemies began. Church officials, military leadership, political opposition, and ethnic minorities were tried, tortured, and served as slave laborers on collective farms and coal mines. In an attempt of "Yarovafication" of the provinces minorities were targeted specifically during the purges. Any attempt to aid Eastern Rovsnoski towns suffering from famine were blocked by Marchotov, resulting in the mass starvation of millions of Rovsnoski farmers. The tension caused by this, along with the implantation of more limits on freedom of speech would result in a number of student protests in Krvnigrad pushing for reform. The protesters eventually became very nationalistic with various military formations of the VP Rovsnoska joining them. The protests eventually turned violent and were crushed by the United Provincial People's Army in an event known as the Marchotov Crisis. This event led to Zaporizhian dominance over the government of the UPRZ.

After Mitja Ribičič died in 1983 relations among the five republics of the UPRZ deteriorated. Kryzhelovschina and Rovsnoska desired greater within the Union, while Zaporizhia sought to strengthen its authority. As it became clearer that there was no solution, Kryzhelovschina and Rovsnoska moved toward secession. Although tensions in the UPRZ had been mounting since the early 1980s, events in 1990 would result in collapse. In the midst of economic collapse due to oil shortages, the UPRZ was facing rising nationalism among its various ethnic groups. By the early 1990s, there was no effective authority at the federal level. The Federal Presidency consisted of the representatives of the five republics, and the United Provincial People's Army, and the communist leadership was divided along national lines.

On March 29, 1994 Rovsnoska, Pozrika, and Dzhokaria made a collective statement declaring their independence, however the current general secretary of the Supreme Soviet Osintsev Ruslanovich ordered no military action to be taken, instead attempting a diplomatic approach to return Rovsnoska, Pozrika, and Dzhokaria to the Union.

Dzhokaria returned on April 4, being promised greater autonomy and freedom while Pozrika was granted total independence after mass strike and protests. Any attempt at a peaceful reunification with Rovsnoska was immediately disrupted however as Ruslanovich's plane was shot down on its path to the Rovsnoski capital of Krvnigrad on April 7. The United Provinces claimed the plane was downed by Rovsnoski forces, however these claims were denied. The plane itself was found in VP Zaporizhia, leading many to believe the plane was downed by Zaporizhian forces in an attempt to form a to forcibly retake Rovsnoska. Marshal Dirkiv Tochinki forcibly took control of the Supreme Soviet unopposed on April 9 using emergency powers. General Secretary Tochinki, declared the secession of Rovsnoska to be illegal and contrary to the constitution of the UPRZ, and declared support for the UPPA to secure the integral unity of the UPRZ.

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Hostilities begin
In the first few weeks of the war there was much scattered fighting, and no unified front. Rovsnoski rushed to the west, and Yarovars to the east. This massive displacement and disorder prevented any major military operations. Many isolated conflicts began to occur, with many UPRZ units trying to make their way east. The UPRZ 1st army, which was loyal to the UPRZ, absorbed various other loyal units and began an attack on the F23 Gomel Air Base. The soldiers at the airbase had not made contact with any other Rovsnoski forces, making them weak, disorganised, and unprepared for any attack. The air base was swiftly captured by the UPRZ, but only a few operational aircraft remained due to the Rovsnoski destroying the rest. The capturing of the air base rallied other loyal UPRZ remnants and became a central point for the UPRZ. On May 16 1994 Field Commander Dirkiv Tochinki announced his command over the UPRZ forces, and that the president was dead, solidifying his power. This unified the loyal UPRZ forces, and with this unity they were able to coordinate and encircle the remaining stragglers in the territory under their control. While the Rovsnoski forces were still scattered the UPRZ went on an offensive, capturing a multitude of small towns and cities where they only faced Rovsnoski militias and scattered Rovsnoski units.

Battle of Nikopol
The UPRZs offensive had mainly been against weak small towns and villages until around 14,000 UPRZ 13th and 32nd Corps soldiers began an attack on the city of Nikopol, which had a majority Rovsnoski population of around 184,000 and some 2,000 militiamen and UPRZ deserters. Nikopol also had hand grenade and mine factories. During the attack the Rovsnoski forces sent 6,500 soldiers and 60 tanks of the 14th Motorised Division and supplies to aid the militias defense. After around a week of fighting the UPRZ captured the city On June 17 the Rovsnoski 14th Motorised Division retreated from the city, marking their first major defeat.

Capture of the Barracks
Due to a lack of central command to unify the Rovsnoski forces and tackle the UPRZ offensive the Legionary Guard was formed out of members of the National Rovsnoski Legion, 37th Motorized Division, 3rd Infantry Division, and 12th Corps. The Legionary Guard acted as a central command for the Rovsnoski forces and as the elite units. Field Marshal Dymitri Papova was tasked with crushing the remaining loyal UPRZ forces in Rovsnoski-held territory and uniting the scattered Rovsnoski forces under a central command. The Capture of the Barracks was a series of engagements that occurred in mid-to-late 1994 between the Legionary Guard and the police on one side and the UPRZ on another. The battle took place around numerous UPRZ posts in Rovsnoski territory, starting when Rovsnoski forces blockaded the UPRZ-held Natyina Barracks, weapons storage depots and other facilities. It formally began on 14 July; its objective was to neutralise the UPRZ positions in Rovsnoski-held territory and to secure arms and ammunition supplies for the under equipped Legionary Guard. The Natyina Barracks were considered vital for both clearing UPRZ remnants from Rovsnoski territory and obtaining armor and ammunition. The Legionary Guard began the attack by clearing the North Barracks while sending the 3rd Infantry Division to clear the ammo depots in the southern part of the base. The local police in the area were ethnically Rovsnoski, but remained loyal to the UPRZ, attacking the Legionaries from the rear, being quickly overpowered by the Legionaries. After three weeks of fighting the Barracks were captured by the Legionaries, supplying them with 50 Tanks, APCs, munitions, and small arms. Most of the UPRZ fighters and police surrendered, and 213 swore loyalty to Grand Marshal Verhenko bolstering their ranks.

Rovsnoski Offensive
After the their successful capture of the Natyina Barracks the Rovsnoski forces were in an offensive position. On July 20th the UPRZ forces came under attack along the southern region near the city of Pochinki, a vital railway hub and home to a Zaporizhian air base housing multiple valuable Su-27s and Mil Mi-24s. Multiple UPRZ units were redirected to Pochinki to support the Pochinki Defense Command, and all units near the city were all ordered to fall back closer to assist in the defense. The city of Pazin would also be captured by UPRZ forces a few miles north.

Siege of Pochinki Begins
By July 24th around 23,000 Rovsnoski soldiers had taken the surrounding villages, General Želko Rukavina was tasked with taking the city. Deciding a straightforward assault would be a massacre against the heavily fortified city, Rukavina ordered to blockade of the city and shell the city using artillery. Around 34,200 soldiers were defending the city. After defenses weaken and the city begins to crumble, an assault to capture the city would begin. On August 7th a breakthrough was attempted using an Armored Division of the 4th Corps, around 15 of the Armored Division's tanks were lost to mines before they engaged the enemy. By late that afternoon they were in full retreat, with many accounts describing the attack as "clumsy" and "rushed." The heavy presence of snipers, anti-tank weapons, and concealed infantry positions are credited with repelling the attack and the many that would follow. The 8th Artillery Division and 4th Corps would continue to lay waste to the city. The electricity and water supply were also cut from the city due to the siege.

Battle of Pazin
On October 12th multiple infantry divisions from the GRA 5th Corps were ordered to recapture the city of Pazin. The 5th Corps was met with heavy defense from UPRZ forces, which of whom had decided to create makeshift anti-tank defenses by burying the hulls of damaged tanks to only allow for the turret to be visible. These defenses worked well to a certain degree for the first few days of the invasion, taking out a company of T-55s, but began to lose effectiveness as the Rovsnoski forces adapted and began sending small infantry groups to disable them under the cover of night. On October 26th Pazin was retaken. The Rovsnoski armored train the "Legija Express", which was supplying the soldiers attacking Pazin, was destroyed by UPRZ artillery shortly after taking the city.

Siege of Pochinki Ends
On March 5th a full assault by the 4th Corps broke through the UPRZ defense around Pochinki after a short aerial bombardment. Multiple armored divisions of the 4th Corps led the assault through downtown Pochinki, with few initial casualties. After multiple engagements with UPRZ forces the 4th Corps had taken the Pochinki airfield and downtown Pochinki. The attack on the headquarters of the Pochinki Defense Command within the inner area of Pochinki began two days later, and would last for three days as the defense command was ordered to continue fighting until reinforcements could arrive. After heavy close quarters combat and the storming of the defense command all UPRZ forces within Pochinki were ordered to surrender. Water and electricity were restored to the city. In total around 6,137 UPRZ soldiers were killed and 2,241 Rovsnoski soldiers killed, with an estimated 5,000 civilian casualties.

Stagnation
By early April 1996 the Rovski-Zaporizhian front had slowed down to a state of almost trench warfare, with no major successful pushes being made by either side of the conflict. In late 1996 Albaterra signed a pact with the Rovsnoski forces to send 1,000 soldiers of the 1st Crusader Corps, which would concentrate its activity on overseeing Rovsnoski forces, anti-partisan operations, and as specialised strike squads.

Operation Undeniable Success
On January 3rd 1997 Field Commander Dirkiv Tochinki of the UPRZ announced that the UPRZ had been dissolved, and the land retained by their forces would become Zaporizhia. Many believed that Tochinki's recognition of the dissolution of the UPRZ would be the end of the conflict, but Zaporizhian forces still wanted to reclaim multiple ethnically Zaporizhian and important industrial cities. An assault known as Operation Undeniable Success was to breakthrough the Rovsnoski line and capture multiple key cities.

Battle of Apazov
When the Rovsnoski besieged the Graznavan capital, thousands of civilians died from a week-long series of air raids and artillery bombardments in the heaviest bombing campaign of the separation. The assault resulted in a major Rovsnoski defeat,

Atrocities and War Crimes
The UPRZ and Zaporizhia were known to execute soldiers suspected of deserting to the Grand Rovsnoski Army on a regular to maintain discipline and prevent desertions, as they had some of the highest desertion rates of the war.