Five US Soldiers Confirmed Dead in Chernarus
Grand Central Times - October 14th, 2019
The Pentagon confirmed the deaths of five American Special Forces soldiers in Chernarus last week along with the loss of two helicopters in fighting. While military officials stated they would not be revealing the names of those lost at this time, the deaths help underscore the seriousness of the current situation in the region. The brief fighting that occurred in the aftermath of the Red Guard coup, who now have stylized themselves as the Democratic People’s Republic of Chernarus, was very bloody for both sides. Early reports from the ground indicated that at least 240 Loyalist Chernarussian soldiers died in the fighting, with that number expected to rise as the military reorganizes itself. Losses on the side of the DPRC are also believed to be high, but the provisional government in Elektrozavodsk has yet to release any official information. Approximately 60 civilians have died, though that number is disputed by the two Chernarussian states, as well as who is to blame for those casualties.
Pictured: Downed American UH-60 in Chernarus, just North of Grishino
The deployment of troops to Chernarus has been highly controversial in the United States, with members of both parties raising objections. But the loss of American lives in what is reported to be in the defense of retreating CDF troops has stirred outrage against the Red Guard in the US. A bill to equip the CDF with more advanced equipment is currently under consideration in the House, with several sources in the Moore administration saying the President is looking to support any bill that could help the beleaguered CDF. This comes as the elements of the 4th Infantry Division are reported to have begun replacing Loyalist troops on the front lines, which while currently static, are now a global hotspot.
Pictured: Declassified satellite image of Russian forces crossing the Chernarussian border
The Russian intervention into the country has further muddied the waters, and heightened tensions between the two rival superpowers. Sources within the Defense Department and NATO have both confirmed that at least four Russian divisions have entered the small Eastern European country. Satellite imagery released by DoD reportedly showed several elements of the Russian Army moving through the DPRC towards the front lines as American troops began to deploy there. There are attempts by diplomats on both sides to ratchet down the tension, but some worry that a confrontation is becoming harder to avoid by the day.
By Tasker Bliss
Grand Central Times