CHAPTER 629: CHAPTER 302: [4TH GUARDS TANK BRIGADE] (4K)

"The main problem is that the support troops from the Ukraine Federation arrived too late. If they had come two hours earlier, they wouldn’t have had to bomb the runway upon arrival."

"That’s right. If we don’t bomb now, it will be troublesome when the Russian Federation’s transport planes arrive with their main forces."

The high ranks outside could also see these discussions among the Free Star Cluster Federation soldiers.

In fact, it was indeed so.

Because the Russian Federation’s main forces had already taken off, coming to Antonov Airport through large transport aircraft.

Once those more than 10 large transport planes arrived at Antonov Airport.

Then, guarding Antonov Airport wouldn’t be just the 300 members of the Russian Federation’s VDV airborne troops, but an elite brigade of the Russian Federation carrying heavy firepower and ammunition.

Unfortunately.

Although both sides had encountered numerous problems.

This was, after all, the home territory of the Ukraine Federation.

After Antonov Airport was attacked.

Although the ground support troops took three to four hours to arrive.

The surrounding air defense units had already opened fire with full force.

Radars were scanning for any suspicious targets.

The large group of transport aircraft, originally carrying all soldiers of the Russian Federation’s 31st Assault Guards Brigade and heavy firepower equipment, upon entering the airspace of the Ukraine Federation.

Were constantly threatened by missiles launched by the Ukraine Federation’s air defense units.

This forced the IL-76 transport aircraft group, initially two-thirds through their journey and about to land soon at Antonov Airport, to turn back in order to avoid being shot down and completely defeated.

And in this way.

The 300-soldier VDV airborne unit from the Russian Federation found themselves in a situation of isolated battle.

But there was no other choice.

After all, the air defense missiles from the Ukraine Federation were not just for show.

If the Russian Federation’s IL-76 transport aircraft group had really attempted to land forcefully and were hit by missiles, not only would the reinforcements have been unable to land, but an elite brigade would have been lost upfront.

That would be an even greater loss.

However, the Russian Federation couldn’t just watch.

They started gathering other units to provide ground support to Antonov Airport.

But before the reinforcements arrived.

Only the less than 300-member Russian Federation VDV airborne troops were left to guard the airport.

The subsequent battle, however.

Left the people of the Free Star Cluster Federation in shock.

Because, with the Russian Federation holding onto the airport, relying on buildings and fortifications, plus having some armed helicopters.

Although the Ukraine Federation had nearly three brigades in force.

They still couldn’t break through into Antonov Airport for a while.

They could only muster all ground heavy firepower like armor, tanks, rocket artillery, howitzers, etc., for continuous bombardment of the airport.

In the distance.

A group of officers from the Free Star Cluster Federation gathered together.

Watching the ongoing bombardment of Antonov Airport that had lasted for more than an hour, and started to murmur among themselves:

"This... is there anything to learn from?"

"Just pure artillery shelling?"

"Learning this tactic seems pointless to us."

"Let’s wait and see."

"If they manage to break in, there might be a chance for close-quarters combat with Russian Federation NPCs."

"That’s right, those NPC soldiers are quite strong in battle."

"Their squad tactics, coordination, etc., need to be carefully observed."

A chorus of discussions arose among the group.

After all, with all the artillery bombardment going on, their offensive wasn’t needed.

There was just some puzzlement.

How is it still possible in 2022 that the tactics of the Russian Federation and the Ukraine Federation seem a bit old-fashioned?

You can tell from the Russian Federation’s decapitation tactics.

The surprise attack on Antonov Airport, a typical World War II-era tactical consideration, might have had miraculous effects in World War II, but at this time.....

Not to mention the information leaked by insiders in the Russian Federation.

Even the sight of Russian Federation armed helicopters flying over Ukraine Federation’s skies has been photographed and uploaded online countless times.

If anyone on the Ukraine Federation side cared a bit more.

This Russian surprise attack wouldn’t have succeeded, and they might have had to retreat empty-handed.

After all, from the Belarusian border to the Ukraine Federation’s capital, Kyiv, there’s still a bit of distance.

The time provided.

Should have been enough for the Kyiv surrounding air defense forces to react.... uh.... never mind.

Considering the slow speed of surrounding troops arriving hours after the Antonov Airport was attacked.

These Free Star Cluster Federation soldiers seemed to understand something about the speed of the Ukraine Federation’s air defense forces.

Expecting them to provide rapid air defense seems a bit unrealistic.

Little did they know,

That although the initial response wasn’t prioritized,

The Ukraine Federation air defense units, once they reacted, used missiles to successfully repel the Russian Federation’s transport aircraft reinforcements.

Otherwise, inside the airport would not only have been those 300 or so personnel.

But the Russian 31st Assault Guards Brigade with heavy firepower equipment.

At this moment,

After continuous bombardment at Antonov Airport, those Russian Federation airborne troops no longer dared to show themselves.

The Ukraine Federation began organizing coordinated charges.

But whenever there was a charge, the Russian Federation airborne troops within the airport would fight desperately.

Moreover, there were several armed helicopters of the Russian Federation inside the airport.

For the moment, it was still a stalemate.

And the Russian Federation’s reinforcements had also arrived.

However, these reinforcements were not transport planes, but Russian Federation fighter jets, which flew from within Belarus to support the ground VDV airborne troops.

But the effectiveness of this support was limited.

After all, fighter jets couldn’t carry too much ammunition, and once the mounted ammunition was spent,

The ground troops were once again left with the Russian VDV airborne unit soldiering on their own.

The Ukraine Federation also deployed fighter jets.

While engaging the Russian Federation’s air force fighter jets in combat, they were also tasked with bombing the runway at Antonov Airport.

Soon.

The battle entered a more intense phase.

Since they couldn’t push through.

The Ukraine Federation chose a full-on assault, conducting a room-by-room battle at the airport, administration buildings, runways, hangars, and every other building on site.

Until now,

The battle had reached a level of ferocity.

The soldiers of the Free Star Cluster Federation could only then feel the opposite force, the Russian airborne unit’s formidable combat strength.

As time passed.

Currently at Antonov Airport, the Ukraine Federation had amassed a mechanized brigade, two assault brigades, and two guard regiments nearly 4000 strong, besieging Antonov Airport.

On the opposing side, the Russian Federation troops,

Only consisted of the VDV airborne unit with less than 300 soldiers.

But with just these less than 300 soldiers, they managed to inflict considerable casualties on the Ukraine Federation during room-to-room battles.

Turning the battle over Antonov Airport into a tug-of-war.

With a force of less than 300 soldiers, they managed to withstand the combined attack of nearly 4000 soldiers of the Ukraine Federation, consisting of one mechanized brigade, two assault brigades, and two defense regiments.

This undoubtedly shocked the soldiers of the Free Star Cluster Federation.

Until late at night.

The soldiers of the Free Star Cluster Federation, along with the Ukraine Federation’s mechanized brigade, two assault brigades, and two regiments, still hadn’t captured Antonov Airport.

Right now, on the Free Star Cluster Federation’s side, they were still discussing how to attack tomorrow.

But outside, the high-ranks of the Free Star Cluster Federation troops were frowning intensely.

This was no time to stop.

They needed to push through and break it down in one go.

But due to lack of communication, they could only watch anxiously from outside.

Not being able to break through in one go was one thing.

On the other hand.

From the outside, they could also observe the dynamics of the Russian Federation.

After the failure of airborne support by the Russian Federation at this time.

They had already switched support methods.

The new method of support entailed the Russian Federation’s 4th Guards Tank Brigade, preparing to move through the Chernobyl Region, was en route here.

The target was indeed Antonov Airport.

On the map, it was almost like a straight line coming over.

Once the Russian Federation’s 4th Guards Tank Brigade arrived, with just the forces of the Ukraine Federation at the airport, they feared capturing Antonov Airport would become an arduous task.

After all, that’s a full tank brigade, not a jest.

From the map.

Just the length of the vehicles and tanks of this tank brigade spanned a few kilometers, enough to offset the disadvantage of being deep within the Ukraine Federation’s territory.