The Chernarussian Movement of the Red Star (short form: ChDKZ) is a REDFOR faction in ArmA 2.
Overview[]
| « | One man with a gun can control hundred without one. V. I. Lenin
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Background[]
The ChDKZ is a pro-Russian, Chernarussian separatist group that was formed from the Solnichniy-based Working Man's Defence Alliance (WMDA).[3][4]
Once a small, loosely organised band of civilian fighters, the organisation quickly turned into a powerful conventional force that was capable of challenging government forces directly.[5] At the height of its power, the main force of the ChDKZ stood at a count of approximately ~ 12,000 fighters.[6]
Commanded by its ruthless leader Gregori "Akula" Lopotev[4], it was also led by the notorious criminal Mikola Bardak, who served as Lopotev's aide-de-camp/second-in-command.[7][8] The organisation itself mostly consists of regional task forces or cells, which in turn are led by a warlord who answers directly to Lopotev himself.[5][9]
Because of this, government forces have found it particularly difficult to root out the insurgency entirely. Its (mostly) decentralised structure meant that each "destroyed" cell (known as "sotnyas") could simply be reformed under another ChDKZ warlord and become active again in a short period of time.[5][9]
History[]
In 1997[3], a group known only as the Working Man's Defence Alliance (WMDA) is founded by Gregori Lopotev and several other members of the Solnichniy Quarry Corporation. Although its mission was presumably that of a civilian union, the organisation was in reality a fervently anti-government group with strong Communist ideals. Two years later in 1999, Lopotev organised a violent protest over working and pay conditions at the mine that leads to the deaths of three protesters, and many more being injured in clashes against security forces (though unconfirmed, figures varied from dozens to almost a hundred).[4][7]
The WMDA was soon dissolved after the incident, with countless members of the group arrested by the government and Lopotev being forced to go into hiding. However, this was also the turning point for what would soon become the Chernarussian Movement of the Red Star (ChDKZ), which would be formed from the ashes of the WMDA with one clear goal: re-integration of Chernarus with the Russian Federation.[4][10]
On the outside, Lopotev and Bardak initially fronted the ChDKZ as an "opposition" political party that merely represented the interests of ethnic Russians. Its existence as a political party did not last for long as it was quickly abolished in 2007.[11] Any lingering hopes of reviving the political wing of the party would be completely dashed by 2008 after the ChDKZ fails to secure enough votes in parliamentary elections.[10] This did not mean an end to the ChDKZ as an entity, however, as the group's supporters would continue to carry out various acts of terror against non-Russian citizens; the worst of these occurring in mid-late 2008.[3][12]
On July 27th, 2009[3], almost a decade after the Solnichniy quarry incident, Lopotev made his first move and conducted multiple attacks against government forces throughout the northern regions of South Zagoria. Lacking strong leadership however, the attacks were easily repelled by the CDF and the ChDKZ are forced to go into hiding again.[13]
One month later, in what would become known as the "September Crisis"[3], the ChDKZ suddenly commenced attacks into government-held regions again. What was different this time around, was the scale and intensity of their attacks[14]; the ChDKZ were well-equipped thanks to arms smugglers[15][16] and being better organised.[17] Their raids were successful in crippling the CDF's supply lines into South Zagoria.
With government forces on the run, the insurgent army quickly seizes control over South Zagoria's coastal towns, beginning with Elektrozavodsk and working their way westward towards the regional capital of Chernogorsk.[18] The ChDKZ was even able to strike the south-eastern island of Utes, easily overwhelming the undermanned CDF garrison based there. With a new forward base obtained, further operations against the southern flank for government forces (who had retreated to Zelenogorsk) could now be prepared.[14]
Second-in-command Mikola Bardak announces the group's intentions to the world (2009)
| « | This is an official statement from the Chernarussian Movement of the Red Star. It is... unforgivable, and unacceptable, that the government of Chernarus does not protect the rights and people of South Zagoria. OUR PARTY WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE IT! There is no alternative, but to declare the independence of South Zagoria! We have started our fight for freedom and independence! You are all called to stand up to beat this corruption and imperialism from our beloved country! Transcript of Bardak's televised speech to the country
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Barely a month after the crisis began, ChDKZ-backed militiamen stormed the town hall in downtown Chernogorsk and captured the incumbent Prime Minister of Chernarus, Alexander Baranov.[3][11]
The ChDKZ issued a public statement demanding that the Russian government accept their requests to be re-integrated with the Russian Federation.[18] Their request is denied however, and Baranov is personally executed by Lopotev in retaliation; afterwards declaring the country as the "Chernarussian Socialistic Republic" instead.[3][14][11]
Events of Operation Harvest Red (2009)[]
| SPOILER ALERT | ||||||
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NOTE: This section contains spoilers from ArmA 2's 'Harvest Red' campaign.   Lopotev and Bardak are apprehended by USMC Force Recon. At the request of the Chernarussian government-in-exile, the United States Marine Corps is deployed to the country to aid in quelling the insurgency.[19][20] CDF remnants and Marines from the 27th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) launch multiple invasions all across the South Zagorian coast, retaking both Utes and the regional capital Chernogorsk[21], forcing the ChDKZ to retreat immediately after facing defeats on all fronts.[3][22] During the Battle of Chernogorsk, Lopotev and Bardak are captured by the USMC after being ambushed during their hasty evacuation attempt from the city.[22] Before they could be brought back to government lines however, a CDF double agent working for the ChDKZ rescues both leaders[23][24], and Lopotev is safely evacuated from the area before additional U.S. forces could arrive.[3][25]
Though Lopotev and Bardak managed to escape, the ChDKZ had nonetheless suffered enormous losses in the face of the American invasion. Regrouping into the northern regions of the province[26][27][28], the ChDKZ slowly assembled a new force with (what the CDF/USMC were unaware of at the time) covert Russian support from a fanatical Spetsnaz operative known only as "Karelin". Karelin had worked quietly from behind the scenes to support the insurgency and was largely responsible for their successes during the onset of the September Crisis to begin with.[17][29]   Bardak is captured again by USMC forces. But even with Karelin's support, the ChDKZ were on the brink of defeat. Many officers were being killed as the USMC slowly swept through the region[30] and to make matters worse, Bardak himself was captured again by the USMC. Unlike their previous attempt, they were successful in bringing back the aide-de-camp to government lines.[3][31] Their fortunes are suddenly reversed after Karelin detonates a bomb in the heart of the Russian capital Moscow. Codenamed as "Operation Cobalt"[32], the bombing kills fifty-three and injures more than two hundred people. The terrorist attack is blamed squarely on the National Party (NAPA)[33], a group of anti-Russian guerillas who constantly engaged in bitter warfare against both government forces and the ChDKZ.[3][34][35][36][37] Much to their luck, the Russian government forces the withdrawal of all American forces from the country, and also demands that CDF troops return to their pre-intervention lines back at Zelenogorsk. With both the Americans and government forces out of the way, the ChDKZ quickly retake their lost territories throughout the northern regions.[38][39]   The ChDKZ are slowly driven back by the CDF/NAPA counteroffensive. What they weren't aware of however, was that a small team of USMC Force Recon operatives were still in the country providing support to the CDF and eventually, NAPA as well. Despite their recent gains thanks to the "ceasefire" arranged by the Russians[39], the ChDKZ are still slowly beaten back by government forces.[40][41] Eventually, a large-scale offensive is conducted by joint CDF/NAPA forces against the ChDKZ. Striking eastward from their base of operations in Zelenogorsk, allied forces pushed into all ChDKZ-held towns and slowly drove them back again.[42] It didn't help that despite their intervention, Russian forces refused to mobilise against the CDF.[43] To make the situation even more difficult for the ChDKZ, Lopotev himself is captured by the Force Recon team after they discover his whereabouts on Skalisty island.[3][44]
His conspiracy at risk of becoming unravelled, Karelin attempts one last ditch attempt at saving Lopotev from being handed over to the Russian government.[45] He is unsuccessful however and is killed during the rescue attempt along with the rest of his Spetsnaz team.[3][29] With Karelin dead[29] and Lopotev gone[46], the once-seemingly unstoppable insurgent army had become leaderless in a single stroke, and their results on the battlefield showed. The Russian military is forced to withdraw after their intervention mandate is revoked[47][48], and the USMC is even authorised to redeploy into Chernarus following unanimous approval in the UN Security Council.[3][49] Now forced into a defensive war, the ChDKZ retreated on all fronts back to their main base of operations in Msta.[50] This didn't go unnoticed by allied forces, who eventually tracked the location of the main base and launched a final attack on it. Despite throwing everything they had at allied forces, the ChDKZ are overrun and their only remaining headquarters in the region is destroyed.[3] |
Post-Operation Harvest Red[]
With the apprehension of their commander, their MOB destroyed, and the majority of ChDKZ fighters either deceased or captured by government forces, the ChDKZ quickly crumbled under the combined pressure from USMC/CDF/NAPA forces.[51]
Small cells throughout the northern countryside continued to remain defiant and resisted, but ultimately lacked the leadership or manpower to challenge allied forces. What was left of the ChDKZ would be mostly wiped out by the end of October 22nd.[3][52][53]
Equipment[]
Kamyshovy risunok (podlesok) camouflage pattern used by ChDKZ fighters (ArmA 2)
Insurgents mostly wear old military fatigues camouflaged with the Soviet-era Kamyshovy risunok (podlesok) pattern mixed with civilian clothes. Aside from vehicle crews, fighters do not wear combat helmets and simply don ski masks/balaclavas to conceal their identities.
Since they lack the logistical infrastructure of the CDF, the ChDKZ mostly relies on salvaged equipment obtained from depots captured from government forces. They also rely extensively on arms smugglers and covert arms shipments from the Russians to supply their fighters on the field.
Like NAPA collaborators, pro-ChDKZ supporters often wielded a mixture of civilian and outdated Soviet firearms such as the CZ 550 or AKS rifles.
But unlike their rebel counterpart, the ChDKZ does have access to limited numbers of fixed-wing aviation assets in the form of Su-25 attack jets. However, these are mostly re-purposed craft stolen from CDF airbases that fell under their control and do not actually have the ability to acquire additional jets of their own.
Arsenal[]
Armoury[]
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Image |
Name | Description |
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Surface-to-Air Missile Launcher Diameter: 72 mm | |
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Assault Rifle Calibre: 5.45×39 mm | |
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Assault Rifle Calibre: 5.45×39 mm | |
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Carbine Calibre: 5.45×39 mm | |
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Assault Rifle Calibre: 7.62×39 mm | |
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Assault Rifle Calibre: 7.62×39 mm | |
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Sniper Rifle Calibre: 9.3×62 mm | |
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Handgun Calibre: 9×18 mm | |
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General-Purpose Machine Gun Calibre: 7.62×54 mm | |
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Rocket Launcher Diameter: 40 mm/105 mm | |
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Light Support Weapon Calibre: 5.45×39 mm | |
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Sniper Rifle Calibre: 7.62×54 mm |
Motor Pool[]
| Vehicle | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 BM-21 Grad |
Self-Propelled Rocket Artillery | - Rocket-based artillery system - Can transport a single passenger |
 BMP-2 |
Infantry Fighting Vehicle | - Amphibious - Variable transportation capacity depending on variant - Has a dedicated variant that can heal infantry |
 BRDM-2 |
Armoured Patrol Car | - Amphibious - Variable transportation capacity depending on variant |
 Mi-8MT |
Utility Helicopter | - Can transport up to 16 passengers - Has a dedicated variant that can heal infantry |
 Offroad |
Pickup Truck | - Can transport a single passenger |
 Pickup |
Compact Pickup Truck | - Can transport a single passenger |
 Su-25 |
Ground Attack Craft | - Cannot transport any passengers |
 TT650G |
Motorbike | - Can transport one passenger |
 T-72 |
Main Battle Tank | - Cannot transport any passengers |
 UAZ-469 |
Light Utility Vehicle | - Unarmed variant can transport up to 6 passengers - Armed variants can only transport a single passenger |
 Ural |
Utility Truck | - Variable transportation capacity depending on variant - Has dedicated variants that can repair, rearm, and refuel nearby ground vehicles |
 ZSU-23-4 Shilka |
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun | - Cannot transport any passengers |
Gallery[]
Video[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Before the events of Operation Harvest Red (2009).
- ↑ After the events of Operation Harvest Red (2009).
- ↑ Also known by his alias of Akula. One of the founders and warlords of the organisation. Arrested and held in the custody of the Russian government after the events of Operation Harvest Red (2009).
- ↑ One of the founders and warlords of the organisation. Detained by U.S. special operations and handed over to the CIA for interrogation. Current status after the events of Operation Harvest Red (2009) is not known.
- ↑ One of the warlords of the organisation. Killed in Action during a raid by U.S. special operations during the events of Operation Harvest Red (2009).
References[]
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External links[]
See also[]
- Chernarussian Defence Forces (BLUFOR counterpart)
- National Party (INDFOR counterpart)
| Factions of ArmA 2 | |
|---|---|
| BLUFOR | USMC • CDF • U.S. Army • KSK • ACR • British Army |
| REDFOR | Russian Armed Forces • ChDKZ • Takistani Army • Takistani Militia |
| INDFOR | NAPA • Takistani Rebels • United Nations • ION |
| Operation Arrowhead | British Armed Forces | |
| Factions - REDFOR (ArmA 2) | |
|---|---|
| Russian Armed Forces • ChDKZ • Takistani Army • Takistani Militia | |
| Operation Arrowhead | |