[Zipuli]

The campaign introduction:

"After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the new Russian state is in disarray. Corruption is ever present, politics have not much power over events, the currency is worthless and worst of all the Army is in shambles. Boris Jeltsin, a national hero of a sort was elected president, but achieved little more than a reputation as a drunken old man raving about in the duma, appointing relatives to most important offices. This lead to a rise of radical, hard-liner politicians and communist admirers and a strong sympathy towards them during the second presidential elections in 1996. But no one expected Vladimir Zhirinovski of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, an ultra-nationalistic party, to win. Yet he did so after making an alliance with general Lebedev, behind whom the army stood. To distract the russian people of the catasthropical state of the country, Zhirinovski starts to pursue a policy to reunite Russia with the borders from year 1900.

In the north, Russia's neighbour and WW2 adversary Finland watches the development behind its borders with little enthusiasm. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Finnish policy was no longer that of balancing between west and east in opinions, and the radical leftists from 1970s are no longer the loudest voice. But still talking of the war between Soviet Union and Finland, and the alliance with Germany is a taboo. When Zhirinovski approached Finland about his agenda of giving Karelia back to the Finns and offering autonomy in the new Russian state, he was not taken seriously. This was a grave mistake, as Zhirinovski was gambling with high stakes. He needed a succesful war to make the Russian people proud of themselves and to assure the world that Russia still is a super power. The Finns watched astonished as the Russian head of state started threatening president Ahtisaari and the Finnish goverment to subdue to his will. At this point Ahtisaari did his best to reason with Zhirinovski but failed.

In summer 1996 The Finnish Defence Forces ordered to start mobilizing some of the most important units under the name of "additional refresher training for reservists". In Russia this cautionary act is taken as an act of extreme aggression, maybe even a sign of preparing to take holy Russian soil in Karelia by force. The Russian army soon masses forces on the Finnish border, something that surprises the whole world as no one believed the Russian army was in condition to do anything. Yet they manage to mobilize a whole Army to "defend" Karelia. Even with over 50 percent of the USSR era equipment out of order the gathered force is formiddable.

Russian attack on Finland commences suddenly and without notice in July 1996. Advancing along Highways (Roads) 6 and 7 west the Russians learn the Finns are not going to give up without a fight. Casualties on both sides are massing, yet the red steamroller pushes on, finally reaching Kymijoki -riverline, a natural barrier half way on the path to Helsinki. Finns on the east side of Kymijoki have "melted" into the dense forests creating an illusion of being defeated, but it's just part of the defence doctrine. Recovering from the shock, the Finnish Army moves its reserves for a counter-attack. Along the forces is the 1st Armoured Brigade, that was mobilized in Hameenlinna and has been training vigorously for the coming mission. When the order is received, the Brigade heads east to face what will most likely be a bitter battle with expectation of high casualties. Already the Finnish soldiers on east side of Kymijoki have started sissi (guerilla-) operations to harass the Russian flow of supplies and to tie reserves in futile pursuit to stop the ever increasing number of attacks along the highways.

You are in command of 3rd Battalion, 1st Armoured Brigade (3.PsP/1.PsPr). And you know that the brigade you belong to is in key role when deciding the fate of Finland."