Front Page - International Times - January 23, 2015

[1LT (Ret) Hart]

Dateline - January 23, 2014 IGT, Bolshevik, Podagorsk

With the imminent deployment of US forces to Bolshevik, the inhabitants of the refugee camp are overjoyed. Despite this, more unconfirmed footage has emerged of what appears to be members of the RPLA, indiscriminately gunning down civilians in the streets of Podagorsk. The latest footage to surface was taken from the body of an ethnic Pogar who was part of a group of civilians who were fleeing gunmen in the town of Beresniki.

The two gunmen can be seen briefly in the video as the civilians are attacked. The group of civilians are unarmed and speculation is rife whether these gunmen are from the Ultra-Violent wing of the RPLA; the Red Guard. Over the last few weeks, there has been an increase in violence towards civilians. Many of these reports have catalogued shootings, however, recently explosions can be heard from our lodgings on the Island of Bolshevik; we believe these explosions are the result of a mining campaign being conducted by the RPLA to increase their defences for what appears to be a forthcoming intervention from the United States.

Once again, should viewers wish to see the aforementioned video, the link is below but we advise viewer discretion as the video below contains unverified footage of the alleged shooting spree. Therefore, we ask our viewers to watch with caution as this footage contains scenes which may be upsetting.

<a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKgpBJsgU08" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKgpBJsgU08</a>

Thomas Atkins - International Times - East European Branch

* This news report is a fictional work to support the 506th ARMA game play

[MAJ (Ret) Hayes]

Those Bastards!

[1LT (Ret) Hart]

Certainly are, I am looking forward to see how they react when the 506th lands on their front door.

[O'Dette]

Depends on their gameplan. They could either put their full force to bear in an attempt to squash the 506th before it's at full combat effectiveness, or they'll pick their battles and try to make the 506th fight in situations where the separatists think they will win.

[1LT (Ret) Hart]

Going toe to toe with the 506th would be a very dangerous game for them. I just worry about conducting battle so close to Russia, this is a long way from home.

[O'Dette]

Going toe to toe with the 506th would be a very dangerous game for them. I just worry about conducting battle so close to Russia, this is a long way from home.

It depends. Admittedly, Russia has not done anything to rein in their dog in the fight, but they haven't taken any offensive actions into Chernarus or Podagorsk. To do so would risk war between them and NATO, and given that they'd be taking offensive operations against UN-sanctioned forces, there's nothing they could hide behind.

What'd be more likely would be for the Russians try to make a land-grab under the causus belli of either "peacekeeping" or ethnic reasons similar to what they did in Ukraine. Both Chernarus and Podagorsk are filled with ethnic Russians, and they form the dominant ethnicity over native Chernarussians and immigrants from Takistan and other Black Sea countries, meaning it wouldn't be too hard for them to make the claim.

If that is the course of action they are going to take, the 506th will need to beat them to the punch and put the separatists down before Russia can get the traction they need to annex the region.