The August Crisis

The August Crisis

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Tanks in Red Square, August 1991​

Foros, Crimea,
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
August 18th, 1991

Mikhail Gorbachev sat in his office at his Crimean Dacha. He had retired there for the time being in wake of the signing of the New Union Treaty which was to fundamentally change the makeup of the Soviet Union, casting aside the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR. This new document had not come without it's enemies though. Most notably were Defense Minister Dmitri Yazov, Chairman of the KGB Vladimir Kryuchkov and even his own Vice President, Gennady Yanayev. Gorby was intent on keeping the new Union Treaty going ahead, despite the opposition. As he sat he saw a black limo pull up to his dacha and be let in. Gorby had a vague idea who it was but it did not mind, his mind was made up, the Soviet Union would reform; even if he had to drag it kicking and screaming into the modern Era.

"I don't understand why they are so against this." Gorby thought to himself, as the door opened downstairs "The Soviet Union cannot continue on it's current path if it is to survive, this is the future we are talking about.". Suddenly the door to his office opened and Baklanov, Boldin, Shenin, and USSR Deputy Defense Minister General Valentin Varennikov walked in. They had a serious look on their face, in tune with the mood perfectly. Boldin was first to speak "Mr. Gorbachev, we must ask that you abandon the New Union Treaty." the others nodded in agreement. Gorby shook his head and slammed his fist on the desk, it had been less than half a minute and they were already getting on his last nerve "No! The Soviet Union is on a death spiral! Communism in Eastern Europe has collapsed! The Americans will win unless this Treaty is drafted. Now could you leave me the hell alone, I am deserving of some time to rest." he said. Now it was Varennikov's time to talk "Do what you think is needed, damn you"! Gorby sat with a stone expression on his face, staring him straight in the eye "I am. Now leave." he said with a twinge of anger. Varennikov stood in the center of the room with a equally serious expression. He stood there for what seemed like a minute before speaking up "Fine. But you must stay". As he said that Varennikov and his goons turned and left the room. Gorby stood and opened his mouth to shout but nothing came out. He sat back in his chair as the realization of what was happening set in
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Broadcast From the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Company

As of today , August 19th, 1991, Comrade Gorbachev had been unable to fulfil his duties as Chairman of the Soviet Union due to illness. Due to this troubling announcement Comrade Yanayev has formed the State Committee of the State of Emergency. It has been created to effectively maintain the regime of the State of Emergency. As it's first action the Committee has decided to name Comrade Yanayev as Acting President of the USSR until this crisis is resolved. The districts of....


The POD will be revealed next update, depending on how well received this is.
 
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Less Than Optimal Circumstances

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Soviet Police Storm The White House


Moscow, Central
Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
August 19th, 1991
18:00 hours

Boris Yeltsin whipped the sweat off of his forehead as the echoes of hammering echoed from down the hall. It had been almost eleven hours since the Committee had taken control of Moscow and begun spewing lies. Fortunately they were not moving quick enough and the people were beginning to see through the thin veil of lies. They had begun to barricade the White House from the inside. While most of them were not armed, they were not completely hopeless. The Tamanskaya Division had declared their support for Yeltsin and taken up positions around the White House. Yeltsin was glad for that as it made his chance of survival skyrocket. The Committee had only one armored division in Moscow, the Kantemirovskaya tank division, and they were showing no signs of attacking. Yeltsin looked at the document he was drafting:

Citizens of Russia: On the night of 18-19 August 1991, the legally elected president of the country was removed from power.

Regardless of the reasons given for his removal, we are dealing with a rightist, reactionary, anti-constitutional coup. Despite all the difficulties and severe trials being experienced by the people, the democratic process in the country is acquiring an increasingly broad sweep and an irreversible character.

The peoples of Russia are becoming masters of their destiny. The uncontrolled powers of unconstitutional organs have been considerably limited, and this includes party organs.

The leadership of Russia has adopted a resolute position toward the Union Treaty striving for the unity of the Soviet Union and unity of Russia. Our position on this issue permitted a considerable acceleration of the preparation of this treaty, to coordinate it with all the republics and to determine the date of signing as August 20. Tomorrow's signing has been canceled.

These developments gave rise to angry reactionary forces, pushed them to irresponsible and adventurist attempts to solve the most complicated political and economic problems by methods of force. Attempts to realize a coup have been tried earlier.

We considered and consider that such methods of force are unacceptable. They discredit the union in the eyes of the whole world, undermine our prestige in the world community, and return us to the Cold War era along with the Soviet Union's isolation in the world community. All of this forces us to proclaim that the so-called committee's ascendancy to power is unlawful.

Accordingly we proclaim all decisions and instructions of this committee to be unlawful.

We are confident that the organs of local power will unswervingly adhere to constitutional laws and decrees of the president of Russia.

We appeal to citizens of Russia to give a fitting rebuff to the putschists and demand a return of the country to normal constitutional development.

Undoubtedly it is essential to give the country's president, Gorbachev, an opportunity to address the people. Today he has been blockaded. I have been denied communications with him. We demand an immediate convocation of an extraordinary Congress of People's Deputies of the Union. We are absolutely confident that our countrymen will not permit the sanctioning of the tyranny and lawlessness of the putschists, who have lost all shame and conscience. We address an appeal to servicemen to manifest lofty civic duty and not take part in the reactionary coup.

Until these demands are met, we appeal for a universal unlimited strike.

He smiled as he read over it. Yeltsin prepared to give it within the hour, standing on one of those tanks outside. If all went well it would inspire the people to side with him over the Committee. He rose from his seat to walk out and give the speech. As he reached the door the whole building shook and Yeltsin just about fell to the ground. He scrambled to the window and what he saw was his worst nightmare. The men of the Kantemirovskaya Division and Tamanskaya Division had begun to do battle. By the look of it the Tamanskaya Division was not as prepared as Yeltsin had hoped. The battle looked to be fierce but horribly one sided as some paratroopers joined the battle. He gulped as he watched one tank after another go up in flames or be stormed like the iron forts they were.

It was not long before the men and women within the White House began to yell. "To the barricades!" was a frequent Yeltsin heard, even just outside the door. Yeltsin decided it was no longer safe inside the building and exited his office. Outside was chaos as men and women ran for any hard and blunt object they could find then back to the barricades. Few had guns and he heard their shots echo through the building. He knew that while they were brave, their resistance was not going to accomplish much. He maneuvered his way down the hall and the stairs. He was heading for the back door, hopefully he could escape. As he reached the bottom of the stairs he saw two familiar faces, Prime Minister Ivan Silayev and Supreme Soviet Chairman Ruslan Khasbulatov. They looked at him and their expressions changed from exhausted to terrorfied. Silayev spoke as Yeltsin moved past them "You have not escaped yet? The Committee's men are beating down the doors, you cannot stay"! Yeltsin turned to him and yelled "Don't you think I know that! Where is the back door"? Saliyev and Khasbulatov looked at eachother then at Yeltsin. "Boris, they have us completely surrounded. If you get there you will run right into their waiting arms." Khasbulatov said. Yeltsin frantically looked around "Well then how do I escape!" he yelled at the pair. He already knew the answer before they said it "There is no escape".
 
1991 the USSR was doom. Warsaw Pact was more or less gone. Many love the reforms. Said reforms did a untold number on the systems. It was over.

Now, how it would end was in the air. This looks like a Civil war.
 
Panic

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The TASS building.​

Moscow, Center
Russian SFSR
August 19th, 1991
20:00

Zotov Antonovich looked out the window from the TASS building. It had been the only media outlet not shut down by the Committee or Pugo but it looked to him that that would change. Outside the police were gathering, milling about like they were waiting for something. Zotov was not surprised as TASS, while being specifically told not to, reported on the coup for what it was. Now the Committee were preparing to silence the last bit of resistance to their new regime. He was still looking at them when someone put their hand on his shoulder. Zotov turned and saw another intern with a stack of papers. Zotov looked at the papers then back the the mans face "What is that"?

"The Kantemirovskaya Division with some paratrooper support have captured the White House. The Tamanskaya Division was almost completely destroyed and Boris Yeltsin was captured." he said somberly. "This explains it all." he again said, motioning to the papers he was holding. Zotov mind raced as the realization that the only man who could oppose the coup, Mikhail Gorbachev, was stick in the Crimea. Zotov took the papers from him

"What do you want me to do with these?" he asked while thumbing through them. "I want you to take these and run. TASS has granted me the right to begin to evacuate the building of all news stories pertaining to what is happening. Once the Committee's goons storm this building they would want to get rid of any sign of resistance. Now go." the man said. Zotov looked up with concern and confusion at those orders. If he left he would most surely survive the attack but TASS wouldn't. Zotov had been a member of TASS since he was old enough to work. He couldn't just abandon it now, could he? His mind came to a decision as the police began to advance forward. Zotov looked at the police, then back to the man and nodded. He rushed out the back door and dashed away into the sprawling city.

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Yanyev sat in his chair in the Kremlin with a nervous look on his face. He had ordered a attack on the White House earlier that day, and TASS not long after, yet he had not heard anything from those fronts. Suddenly the door to his office opened and Dimitri Yazov, who was both the Defense Minister and Marshal of the Soviet Union, walked in. He had in his hand a single piece of paper and a neutral look on his face. He walked up to the front of Yanyev's desk and recited what was on the paper.

"Today, at 6:00PM forces from the Kantemirovskaya Division attacked the traitors in the White House. They wasted no time in overwhelming the defenders, capturing many and killing 15. In the end President Boris Yeltsin, Prime Minister Ivan Silayev and Supreme Soviet Chairman Ruslan Khasbulatov were all captured. Two hours later, at 8:00PM, Police forces used a combination of tear gas and rubber bullets to subdue the people of TASS on Boris Pugo's orders. In the end all members of TASS were captured short one lowly intern. Unfortunately TASS managed to move most of the news they had gathered throughout the days to an undisclosed location. Currently we have police investigating the matter, expect a response tomorrow."

Yanyev laid back in his chair when Yazov finished reading. He had done it, he had silenced any opposition to his coup. Gorby still was in the Crimea though, they could not keep him locked up forever. He had to do something with him, and he think he had just the idea. He turned to Yazov "Yazov, get me Alpha Group on the phone."
 
Showdown in the Crimea

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Gorby's Dacha​

Foros, Crimea,
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
August 20th, 1991
3:00AM

Gorbachev laid in his bed, sleeping when he was jolted awake by someone. He looked up at the looming figure and squinted against the darkness "Who are you?" he said groggily.

The man responded "That is not important. You are coming with me Mr Gorbachev."

Mikhail squinted harder to see who was standing over him but he still could not. "No...who are you?" he asked, sitting up on the side of bed. His wife Raisa also awoke and turned to look at the two men. She wiped her eyes and said "Mikhail, who is that"? Gorbachev turned to her "Go back to bed Raisa, you will be safe here". In here sleepy state Raisa did not question him and simply turned over and went back to sleep. Gorbachev turned back to the man, looking at him expectantly.

"Mr Gorbachev, we have reasonable information to suspect the KGB will try to assassinate you tonight. We must get you to..." his sentence was cut short when a man swung in through a window down the hall. The man pulled a pistol from his waistband and rushed out of the room. Raisa awoke and yelled as the man exited the room, only to get shot. Gorbachev rose to his feet as the man fell to the floor, and was executed by the invader. The invader walked into the room and pointed his gun at Gorbachev.

"Comrade Gorbachev, your traitorous actions against the worker and Russia are at an end." he said. Gorbachev, instead of standing in place and dying where he stood, charged the man and tackled him to the ground. "Run Raisa!" he yelled while wrestling with the attempted assassin. Raisa stood, contemplating whether to aid her husband, but resolved to flee as more gunshots echoed from somewhere else in the Dacha. Gorbachev felt a tear well up in his eye as he watched her go. Suddenly he felt cold steel enter his stomach. He yelled in pain as he was thrown off the assassin by another who had entered the room. He continued to groan as the one he tackled got up and dusted himself off before re-arming. His assassin then proceeded to shoot Gorbachev twice in the head. Once in the forehead and then again in his eye. The exited the room wordlessly as Gorbachev died, minutes later the screams of Raisa echoed through the dacha. They were quickly silenced by a gunshot as the KGB finished their work. The Gorbachevs were through.
 
The Crisis​

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Tanks Begin to Enter Moscow​

Moscow, Central
Russian SFSR
August 20th, 1991
6:00AM

Yanayev sat at his desk doing paperwork and ordering units when Karpukhin walked into his office. He handed Yanayev a stack of papers, in the top in bold letters read "Mission Debrief". As Yanayev looked it over Karpukhin said "it's done." in a somber tone.

"Was there any trouble?" he asked as he continued to skim the papers. There was silence on the other end, Yanayev did not like that. Finally Karpukhin responded.

"Gorbachev was killed in the attempt." he said. Yanayev froze as those words sunk in Gorbachev was killed. This would mean bad news for his new government.

"What the fuck? Why did you kill Gorbachev?" he yelled.

"He attacked one of our men. We were forced to respond." Karpukhin said. He sounded sincere, but it did not make sense.

"He is a fat 60 year old man! What the fuck did he do, bring a fucking Katyusha!" Yanayev yelled. He decided it was no use trying to keep calm, he was going to vent.

Karpukhin said nothing, so Yanayev looked back down at the report. As he was skimming he read something that infuriated him even more. "YOU KILLED RAISA GORBACHEV!" he screamed. He could take Mikhail getting killed, he was a guy, but Rasia. Karpukhin stood as still as a statue and when Yanayev was done he responded.

"Sir, she was trying to escape the premises. We had to contain the situation". That did nothing to calm Yanayev's mood. "THEN THROW HER IN FUCKING JAIL!" he screamed again. He ran his fingers through his hair and breathed a heavy sigh. "Just get the hell out of here. You better fucking hope the international news does not find out about this or it is your head." he yelled. Karpukhin nodded and left the room.


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Gorbachev and Wife Killed As Rival's Attempt Power Grab

Hello, I am Bernard Shaw. Today, instead of a peaceful day at his Crimea dacha Gorbachev and his wife were murdered by what are reported to be KGB agents. Unconfirmed sources from within Russia have stated that the Gorbachev family have been killed parallel to a power-grab by his opponents, led by Vice-President Gennady Yanayev...If you would remember yesterday we reported on a unconfirmed attack on both the Russian White House and the Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union building. It now appears that these two events are related to the power grab...

 
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Perhaps the USSR may dissolve more violently...and break into more pieces. O the bright side, Crimea, South Ossetia and Abkhazia may be their own nations...
 
Trouble in the Ukraine

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The flag risen over Kiev​

Kiev, Kiev City Municipality
Ukrainian SSR
August 20th, 1991
10:00AM


Yaroslav Andruschkiv scanned the sides of the street to make sure the square was deserted. He saw a lone woman scurry down the sidewalk then disappear into a building. Yaroslav looked over the makeshift barricade his men and him constructed the day before and at the Mariyinsky Palace. While not the official residence of the President he had fled there when Yaroslav and his men stormed the Presidential Administration Building. The Soviet Army was too busy in Moscow to bother with the unrest, and as an added plus Yaroslav cut the Palace's communications with the outside world. Before ordering the fateful attack Yaroslav's mind wandered to what had brought him here.

When news of unrest in Moscow filtered into Kiev through the lines Vitold Fokin, Head of Government, declared a state of martial law across the entire country. When First Secretary Hurenko and President Kravchuk tried to question him, he had them imprisoned. Using the temporary weakness of the Ukrainian SSR to his advantage Yaroslav joined the people in open revolt. The people had been moving quickly and seized many important buildings including the police station, the Soviet, and the Presidential Administration Building. He heard from someone with family up north, that the same thing was happening in the Baltics. The thought of the dissolution of the Soviet Union made Yaroslav smile, but it was quickly cut short as machine gun fire erupted from the building. Yaroslav ducked and heard someone shout "They are breaking out!" just before getting shot himself. Yaroslav rose from the barricade and threw a brick at them

He saw a group of policemen who were moving slowly and firing tear gas in every direction, guessing that Fokin was in the center. The police were thrown about like dolls by a angry child as the bullets hit them full force. Some tumbled to the ground and never got back up, while others did but were winded and hesitated for a moment before returning fire. Yaroslav watched as people threw bricks, stones, really anything they could pick up and was heavy, at the police. Some police were able to deflect the projectiles with their shields while others simply dodged. With projectiles coming from every which way, the police square was halted.

Before Yaroslav could do it himself he heard someone shout "Charge!" and the people obeyed. Over the top and around the barricades they went like a river of bodies. The Police tried to resist but everybody knew that it wouldn't be long before they are overwhelmed. Yaroslav decided to not join the mess of flying fists and billy clubs, instead opting to join the other group in seizing the now undefended palace. The doors were made short work of and men sprinted down halls and into rooms. There were startled yells indicating some government workers never left the building, Yaroslav payed no mind. He instead ran into the President's office and found it deserted. Yaroslav sat in the President's chair and smiled. One of the others in the room asked him a fateful question "So...your President now?"

Yaroslav shook his head. "Nah, I am not fit to be President of such a great country. The only man right for that job is Leonid Kravchuk. Go break him out of prison, the rest of you prepare a statement 'Ukraine is free!'"
 
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So I was writing this update but then my teacher closed by browser, erasing all my work. Because of this you will unfortunately be waiting until tomorrow for another update.
 
Rising Tensions

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The Red Army on the March​

Moscow, Central
Russian SFSR
August 22nd, 1991

Gennady Yanayev smiled as he continued his work. He had been receiving congratulations from the other SSR's. Well all except for the ones to the East. Gennady was not surprised though as they had been angry with the Soviets for some time. He heard a knock at the door so Yanayev yelled "Come in". Dmitry Yazov came in with a a stack of paper and put them on Yanayev's desk. "Comrade Yanayev. We have received a Declaration of the People from the Ukraine. It says that they have overthrown the state of emergency imposed by Fokin and re-instated that traitor President Kravchuk. Kravchuk has declared the SSR to be dissolved and installed a republic. We have similar declarations from the Baltic SSR's, the area formerly known as Lithuanian SSR and Belorussia. The Central Asian SSR's and Southern Caucasus SSR's are reporting excessive amounts of unrest to. They ask for our support in suppressing it." he said in an official tone.

Yanayev ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "Damn the Ukraine. Damn the Baltics and Damn Belorussia!" he yelled. He then went into thought about what to do next. He knew any intervention could run the risk of NATO intervention should they feel the need. "Those Western dogs just can't wait to tear apart what Lenin spent so much to build. I cannot let it die, not now at least." he thought to himself. He gulped before giving the order "Yazov I want invasion scenarios against the breakaway republics. I also want Spetsnaz on the ground in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasuses within the hour. Have them eliminate any revolters with extreme prejudice." he said. Yazov nodded and began to walk out. Before leaving he stopped and turned "Would you like for us to account for NATO intervention"?

Yanayev nodded "Yes. I want you to account for any foreign intervention and proper responses." he said; Yazov turned and left the room. Yanayev froze for a moment and then called Pavlov. After the phone rang three times he heard a familiar voice on the other end "Hello? This is Priemer Valentin Pavlov". Yanayev smiled "Pavlov this is President Yanayev. I would like for you to call for a press conference later today...yes I know it would be difficult for them to set up so quickly but I have a very important announcement to make".

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Yanayev sat at the center of the long table with the rest of his government at his sides. In front of them was a large gathering of reporters from across the world. CNN, BBC, all the big players from across the Western world. As the room quieted Yanayev began to speak "Please keep your questions until the end. On the 18th of August Comrade President Mikhail Gorbachev retired to his dacha in the Crimea due to stress related illness. In his incapacitated state I was made Provisional President of the USSR. President of the Russian SFSR Boris Yeltsin instead took Gorbachev's weakness as a chance to seize power. In an attempt to counter the revolution I used my position to declare a state of emergency across the Central District and captured Boris Yeltsin after he barricaded himself in the White House. On August 20th Mikhail Gorbachev died of a stress induced heart attack and the Presidency passed on to me. That same day revolutionaries stormed government buildings in Kiev, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, and Minsk. They officially dissolved the various SSR's in place and declared themselves an illegal government. To counter this threat I have ordered the Red Army into the Ukraine, Belorussia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia to restore order." he said. Then he looked up at the reporters. One raised his hand and Yanayev acknowledged him so he asked his question.

"Hello. I am Frank Underwood from CNN. What about your nuclear arsenals in those countries? Do you still have control of those?" he asked. Yanayev sighed and hoped he would not get to much bad PR from what he was about to say.

"As of now, No. The USSR has no control over the nuclear weapons in the breakaway states. We have them as our first priority, especially in the Ukraine." he said. A low murmur came over the room as reporters took notes. A woman rose her hand and Yanayev acknowledged her.

"Hello I am Brenda Whitesworth from the BBC. Do you have a time-table for your restoration of order?" she asked. Yazov responded instead of Yanayev "We expect this to be over and done with within the next week. Our first priority is the nuclear weapons and securing them." he said with a smile. She nodded and sat back down. She jotted down some notes as Yanayev looked around for another question. Nobody else did so Yanayev stood "That is all." and walked out. He heard the reporters dash out of the room to phone home and give their networks the biggest scoop of their careers.
 
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Invasion

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A photo of the Soviet Invasion put through a filter on Instagram​

Luhansk, Donbass
The Republic of Ukraine
September 1st, 1991​

Alexei Andropov grunted as he continued his march. A T-64 tank rumbled past with it's sides crowded with tired infantrymen. In front of them was Luhansk, the first largeish city the Red Army South had come across since they began their invasion of Ukraine. It was illuminated by the numerous fires that the heavy bombing started. He yawned as a friend of his slowed near him and turned to him "Hey Alexei, how have you been?" he asked.

"Well I just walked almost 30 miles today and it is not even half over, we are attacking a reported rebel stronghold with outdated weapons and to top it all off it is supposed to get cold soon. Other than that it has been pretty good I guess." Alexei said. His friend, Andrei Pavlov (no relation to Valentin), slugged him in the arm and chuckled. He was always one to look on the bright side even when there was not many, this was no different.

"Stop being such a spoil-sport Alexei. When we crush these traitors we will be able to go back home and with a medal. Besides, you're not going home to any lady so..." he trailed off. Alexei knew what he was hinting at, rape, something the Red Army was famous for.

He shrugged "I don't know, I heard these Ukrainian girls are cute." he said with a smirk. Andrei hit him again with a smile "You dog, you."

Suddenly there was a loud explosion some way in front of them. Men screamed and oily black smoke drifted up from the burning vehicle. As they passed it Andrei and Alexei found that a T-60 had driven across a mine and exploded. The men who were sitting on it did not stand a chance as the ones who were not killed in the explosion burned. Alexei looked at the corpses and said "I would hate to be the men them, the ones inside died a quick death". Andrei nodded wordlessly and walked ahead of Alexei with a smirk still on his face.

Alexei looked up and at Luhansk which was now looming over him like a behemoth. The Red Army entered the city and he heard his commanders begin to bark orders. He was tuning them out until he heard his name. He turned to see one of his commanders yelling at him "Alexei! Go capture the City Center!" he yelled. Alexei nodded and ran down an adjoining street with a group of soldiers. He arrived in the center of hte city in short order to find it deserted. It's grey apartments sitting empty, or so it seemed. Alexei scanned the buildings for any sort of movement but their darkened windows and dark grey exteriors offered no help. Suddenly he heard a blood-curdling scream from one of his men. He turned to see one of his men fall to the ground with a knife implanted in his neck. The others opened fire on that area, peppering the wall with bullets. Finally one struck home and the man fell to the ground. This apparently signaled his friends because suddenly there was gunfire raining down from every direction.

Alexei panicked and dived to the ground, hoping he would not get hit. He heard gunfire and tank cannons booming from other places in the city signalling the Ukrainians are starting their attack. He laid on the ground as the men around desperately tried to resist only to be cut down by the hail of bullets. Alexei heard on his walkie talkie the results from the other theaters and they did not sound good. "Armor destroyed, Hostiles have cut our way of escape". "We are sustaining heavy casualties, requesting support in the north-west corridor". "We are fucking dead! I gotta-". Alexei heard the gunfire around him stop so he made his move. He scrambled to his feet and dashed down the alley back to where he hoped his column still was. He heard the clatter of machine gun fire behind him and heard cobblestones shatter at the impact of the bullets behind him. "Almost there!" he thought as he approached the end of the alley. Suddenly he was out of the frying pan, and into the fire.

It was exactly like he pictured hell to be. Bodies were strewn across the street and there was more than one burned out tank on the road. The Red Army banner was on the ground and burned, bullet holes making it look like swiss cheese. The remnants of his column were taking cover wherever they could and fighting to the last man.

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Soviet forces prepare to pull out of Luhansk

A bullet hit Alexei straight in the back, throwing him to the ground. Pain grappled his body immobilizing him as he writhed on the ground. He heard Ukrainian from down the alley as they moved in for the kill. "Fuck. I guess this is how I die." Alexei thought. There was a loud rattle as a looming figure appeared over him and fired into the alley. The Ukrainians yelped in pain and scurried down and out of the alley, taking cover behind the buildings. Alexei recognized the figure as Andrei and Andrei was not looking so good. He had blood caked on his face and he appeared to have a hole in his side with only rudimentary bandaging. Andrei grabbed onto Alexei's arm and pulled him across the street to cover as his comrades sprayed the buildings with bullets, suppressing all inside.

Andrei gave Alexei a quick pat down to make sure he had no further injuries and found none. "Alexei! Can you move your legs?" he asked with urgency. Alexei tried but found it useless. The fear of being paralyzed did not faze him at the moment though.

"No, they are as useless as a girl on her period." he said, aiming for a chuckle.

Unfortunately he got no reaction that he wanted. Andrei uttered a word Alexei couldn't hear over the sound of war. "Fine, I will just have to carry you out then." he said as he shuffled Alexei onto his back.

"Wait. Get me out? We are retreating?" Alexei asked. He was starting to feel groggy from the blood loss but he shook it off. He saw Andrei's head bob "Yes, we are pulling out of Luhansk. We have the Red Air Force on the way to level the city, nothing will be standing in our way." Andrei said.

"What about the civilians?" Alexei asked. They might be traitors but they were still people who had no part in this war.

Andrei shrugged "Look, I dont fucking care right about now. We have one more tank to cover our retreat, once that comes I am making a run for it. Just...try to keep me covered on the situation behind me ok Alexei? Alexei?" he asked. It was to late as Alexei had went unconscious as his body gave up fighting both the blood loss and exhaustion. Next thing he remembered he was in a military hospital in Rostov.

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From The Soviet Succession War: America's Testing Ground. Copyright 2011

The Leveling of Luhansk was a savage act on the level of Dresden. In all 142 Tu-95's appeared over Luhansk to drop their deadly payload. They even had fighter escorts even though the Ukraine did not have any fighters or AA to contest the Tu-95. They bombed not only Luhansk commercial district which was heavily militarised, but also a hospital, a school and 30 non-military targets. Many of those held civilians seeking refuge from the Soviet Storm. In the short 12 minute bombing period 99% of Luhansk was partially or completely bombed out. In addition to one thousand military casualties the Ukrainian government reported that 10,000 civilians were killed in the bombing, including 245 children who were hiding in the school. It is commonly accepted that this is the beginning of NATO concern.
 
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