Operation/Patrol Time:
0800 Bravo (UTC+2), 05MAY24
Weather/Forecast Information:
Current temp: 62 degrees F, height of day at 76 degrees by 1400, floor of 49 degrees at 0500. Wind speeds around 5-10 MPH to the West/North-West.
Lighting/Visibility Factors:
Slight overcast day, no rain expected, optimal visibility conditions.
Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information
TFA & TFC have encountered heavy MANPADs/SHORAD presence in Korsac, which shouldn't have the range to impact Zimnitrita.
Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
The recent reports of smuggled radioactive material and increasing civil unrest tied to pro-Russian political parties within Moldova have caused great concerns with our NATO ally Romania, who has then requested the presence of US troops in the regions of Korsac and Zimnitrita, which are situated along the Southern Romania-Moldova borders.
Aside from just countering the increasing numbers of pro-Russia separatists that have resulted from the efforts of Russian intelligence operatives who may or may not officially be present and are looking to repeat what happened in Eastern Ukraine, the US Department of Defense is also very much interested in showing our latest NATO partners our commitment to deterring the Russian threat. After all, President Putin has never and likely will never publicly state that Ukraine is the end of his "3-day-special-operation" ambitions.
While these regions are technically part of Moldova, they exist in a grey area as contested territories between the 2 countries. Their geographic position is in the middle of the chokepoint between the Carpathian Mountains to the West and the Black Sea to the East, acting as a gateway into Romania proper. Therefore, maintaining security here is of utmost importance to ensuring Russian influence does not extend any further West than the Ukrainian borders at this time.
Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
The news should have finally caught up with the fact that a regime change has recently occurred in the region, with the new leadership much friendlier to Moscow and with the buildup of troops and weapons to closely match the early days of 2014 Ukraine. S-2 is closely monitoring the situation, and a proper Area of Operations Assessment will be delivered as soon as we can nail down a few details.
For now, we at least know that professional Russian troops have yet to enter the field, busy as they are with what's happening on the East and with few measures or resources to connect the 2 fronts. The goal for the first phase will be to secure vital civilian infrastructure and conduct shows of force in nearby civilian population centers.
Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence
Task Forces Alpha and Charlie have stepped off before dawn to secure an air field and power plant over in Korsac, while you, Task Force Bravo, will be stepping off now to conduct a patrol within Niscova here in Zimnitrita.
Intel reports from TFA and TFC have reached S-2 as of an hour ago, and so far OPFOR have consisted of pro-Russian seperatists who have formed a militia, favoring quantity over quality, utilising dated Soviet hardware.
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