2022-2023 Sino-Soviet conflict (TTtC)

2022-2023 Sino-Soviet Conflict
Part of Post-Burnout conflicts
Date 8 November 2022 - ongoing (2 years, 3 weeks and 4 days) Place Northern Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, East Mongolia Result Ongoing
Belligerents
Soviet Union	People's Republic of China
Casualties and losses
840	1,220[1]
[1] According to ICR sources.

The 2022-2023 Sino-Soviet conflict is a currently ongoing border clash in Northern Manchuria and Inner Mongolia between the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union. Mainly stemming from the Sino-Soviet split, the war started on 8 November, 2022, when a Soviet soldier attempted to flee the country from his border patrol station via Zhenbao (Damansky) Island on the Ussuri (Wusuli) River in Manchuria. He was shot by Chinese border patrol, which caused public outrage. While no war was declared, Soviet troops promptly seized the island, which started a battle between the two nations.

PRC forces were quick to set up multiple inland defenses, however sacrificing land near the borders in the process. Soviet soldiers quickly seized the borderlands, before being eventually stalemated. They'd take multiple casualties seizing bordering towns and cities. After a prolonged stalemate, Soviet troops eventually called upon the KGB and the MVD Internal troops in January.

Background

After the Moscow-Washington Conflict, doctrinal divergences arose between the PRC and the Soviet Confederation from their different interpretations and practical applications of Marxism–Leninism, as influenced by their respective geopolitics during the Post-war world. Revisionism became a major player in the Soviet Confederation, causing a rift between the two nations.

War

The war unofficially began on November 8th when a border patrol officer, Boris Morozov attempted to cross the border from his border patrol station by Zhenbao Island on the Ussuri river, which was a previously disputed site between the two nations. Morozov would be shot twice by Chinese border patrol, believing him to be a border-hopper. His autopsy confirmed two bullets in his chest, particularly his lungs.

Multiple Soviet news stations quickly reported on the subject, which caused public outrage among Soviet citizens, especially from the Siberian SFSR. Morozov became the subject of multiple Sinophobic propaganda campaigns, often leaving out the motivation for his border crossing, which was likely to escape poverty. The CPC officially responded to the shooting, citing border patrol laws across both countries, and then promptly stating no misconduct had occurred.

Around Thanksgiving day, Chinese border patrol noticed a major increase in Soviet patrols of the island. An ultimatum from the PRC would be given to Soviet armed forces leadership, ordering the withdrawal of the patrols, or else the island would be forcibly seized. When Soviet leadership denied, 100~ troops from the Soviet Union quickly seized the island on December 2nd, hoping to take the island before Chinese military built up.

2022

The Soviet Army regrouping in the forest, utilizing WWII era-weapons due to Post-war economic conditions.

China, with a quick reaction to the attack, would send out 2 divisions towards Khanka Lake to set up defenses. One laid wire, and the other laid mines. The Soviet Union, cancelling their plans at Khanka, then opted for a surprise attack across the southern border. hoping that seizing Mudanjiang would cause China to surrender. Chinese forces would attempt to block the highway, causing Soviet forces to regroup in the woods before a proper attack. Around this time, Multiple ICR and LoN photographers would make their way to the battle scene, and news would finally spread internationally about the attack.

The remnants of the Eastern Bloc would be divided on their stance of the war, with countries such as Vietnam and Albania siding with China, and nations such as Mongolia siding with the Soviet Union.

2023

The People's Liberation Army rushing supply positions in the North.

After a stalemate at Mudanjiang, Chinese forces began a push in the North, attempting to tighten supply lines and surprise the enemy from the north. Soviet forces responded by falling back on the Southern front, causing the Mudanjiang offensive to be pushed back to the outskirts of the town. Chinese forces would also partially take back small towns by the border.

In March, the ICR would announce their support towards a peaceful resolution of the war, which would cause minor dispute between its member states. East Turkestan would eventually announce it's support of the Soviet Union due to their tense relationship with the PRC.