AUTHORIZED REPORT FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO and STAVKA DATED 18 February 1973.

Preamble:

In the early morning hours of February 18^th, Murmansk Task Force 15 - Regional Defensive Forces including the elements of 153^rd VDV Air Mobile infantry, 322^nd Motor Rifle Regiment, 12^th PVO Strany Air Defense and 42^nd Guards Light Artillery Detachment have attacked Finnish/Norwegian combined force in the border village of Suomussalmi. The village defenses had to be neutralized in order to implementFire Plan Moscow Blue:

Continued NATO reconnaissance / aggression of the airspace above Murmansk must be eliminated to allow the proper trials of the new Komsomolets Nuclear Attack Submarine in Murmansk harbor. Installing two mobile batteries of SA-6 in the Finnish territory and launching against NATO RC-135 aircraft operating would address this issue.

Execution:

1000 hrs - 153^rd VDV attacked the village of Suomussalmi with light artillery support from 42^nd Guards. Defenses estimated at 60 personnel + village militia. Village secured with light casualties (6) and pacified – combined Nordic force escaped in the direction of village of Joensuu using light snow-movable vehicles. People's forces lacked the gear to pursue the fleeing defenders in the deep snow and were forced to await the arrival of the 322^nd Motor Rifle Regiment to press on with the attack. Nordic forces continued fast-moving, harassing attacks against the forward elements of the 153^rd VDV.

1117 hrs – With the arrival of 322^nd Motorized regiment, the people's forces organized a strong echelon push against the well entrenched elements of the combined NATO Nordic force. Using armored vehicle firepower and cover, Comrade Colonel Vashburnyn's elements have managed to tie up and then smash through the heavy resistance. The heroes of the motherland have sustained significant casualties (18), but have secured the main road leading towards Joensuu and Nordkampp – the main sectors of enemy activity.

While Comrade Col. Washburnyn's heroes were fighting for the road. Small detachment of snow-mobile troops led by Comrade People's Commissar Omar, have pushed covertly across the frozen plain into the village of Joensuu. Having quickly neutralized the village militiamen, they began setting up the necessary infrastructure for the arrival of SA-6. However, a lightning counterattack by the snow-borne elements of Norwegian troops caused them to entrench and await the arrival of Col. Washburnyn's armored fist.

1213 hrs – Setback! APC column carrying SA-6 missiles and radar installations is trapped and disabled by the Norwegian special forces using Capt. Fisher's nefarious plot to use 1000 Kg GBU Paveway bomb as an IED. 153^rd VDV and 12^th PVO Air Defense are left without armored support and re-supply chain.

While Comrade Admiral Denebeimovich and his aide Domingashvilli are mobilizing the worker's battalion in Murmask to help salvage and extract the mired armored column, Comrade Col. Washburnyn's dismounted infantry attacks NATO installations at Nordkampp.

Col. Washburnyn's forces advance across the frozen plain with the cover of heavy artillery barrage and almost seize Nordkampp., however Stavka is concerned that the incoming NATO aircraft present a more ominous concern and orders Col. Washburnyn and Commissar Omar to withdraw to Joensuu and fire the missiles against the incoming RC-135 aircraft, before they detect the mired column and/or ongoing submarine tests.

1300 hrs – Heavy NATO attack against Joensuu and the small VDV detachment left there to launch the missiles. With some encouragement from Comrade Political Commisary, the engineers have managed to operationalize one missile. Even though under pincer assault, the last remaining elements of 153^rd VDV launch the missile against RC-135, bringing the aircraft down - rescue parachutes sighted south of Murmansk. Fate of 153^rd VDV unknown – presumed dead or captured.

1320 hrs – While the worker's battalions, supported by some local Finnish “volunteers” are doing the impossible and attempting to free the mired armored column, the surviving elements of 322^nd MRR and 12^th PVO begin withdrawal back towards Suomussalmi and then back to the border, attempting to locate any downed NATO air personnel along their route.

1330 hrs – Finnish Territorial Defense Forces have already liberated Suomussalmi with a daring flanking maneuver using snow-moibile infantry forces. Remaining Soviet elements are cut off and forced back to the site of mired armored column. There, they assemble perimeter defenses as the worker's battalion labors through the remainder of the day. Comms with STAVKA indicate possible rescue attempt under the cover of darkness.

1800 hrs – Flares launched and Comrade Capt. Fisherov sent on a solo-mission to bring in the detachment of Ural Heavy Lifters to load and extract the damaged equipment. Deteriorating weather, low temperatures and heavy snowfall are now the main enemies of the heroes of the motheland. Even though the equipment is rescued, the surviving personnel cannot board the Ural heavy lifters and is forced to await dawn extraction.

2200 hrs – Snowfall increases as the remains of Task Force 15 and worker's battalion brace for surviving the night in the hostile territory. Fuel supplies are dangerously low, all available food is put forth in the communal scoff while only the vodka and songs about the motherland keep the heroes alive.