Siege of Latus

The Siege of Latus was an extended battle during the Baltic War, lasting from the beginning of the war on 3 January 2020 until the recapture of Latus by Baltic forces on 14 February 2020. It saw heavy fighting by the Russian Federation's Armed Forces against the Baltic Federation's Armed Forces for control over the port city of Latus and comprised most of the fighting in the Baltic Federation during the war. The city changed hands several times over the course of the fighting and most of the city was turned to rubble by a mixture of missile strikes, strategic bombing and naval bombardment.

The siege was described as brutal and hellish, as the elite Russian 1st Guard Infantry Corps were deployed against the inexperienced and underequipped 2nd Infantry Corps of the Baltic Federation, gaining the upper hand in all forms of combat until the deployment of Armestisian mechanised infantry later in the conflict. Casualties were hard to estimate for some time due to the ongoing siege but estimates vary from 12,000 to 38,000.

## Background

Latus was considered by the Russian Federation's Armed Forces as the major target of the northern front and therefore it was one of the initial day one operative objectives of the invasion. It was one of the largest city in northern Baltia and also a major Russian-speaking zone. Industrially, it was one of the most economically vital cities along the Gulf of Salrelis, with the capture of its port cutting off most of the lifeline of the north east of the Baltic Federation.

Militarily, it was also important for the Russian Federation's Armed Forces as the port of Latus at the time was hosting a large portion of the Baltic Federation's navy. The capture of Latus would have allowed the Russian Baltic Fleet to encroach upon the Baltic fleet in the Gulf of Salrelis, leading to Russian naval superiority in the Bay of Balta as well as potentially preventing any international aid from across the Bay.

## Prelude to Battle

### Bombardment and Advance on Latus

Mere seconds after the invasion was officially declared, Russian missiles began to strike many locations within Latus, primarily targeting military facilities such as radar installations and logistic hubs, crippling the defensive capabilities of the city's garrison. This was soon followed by large-scale aerial bombardment by the air force. Due to the technologically lacking capabilities of Baltic SAM batteries, they were unable to shoot down a single Russian aircraft and missile bombardment would continue until the end of the siege.

Whether it was unknown whether it was intentional or not, Russian missile strikes part of the destruction of logistical capabilities took out many major roads and railway stations in Latus, which meant that evacuation of the civilian population was chaotic and disorganised, contributing to the bloody fighting. There were also unconfirmed reports of the Baltic government disallowing civilians to evacuate under the pretence that it would bolster morale of the soldiers defending the city.

By the evening, electricity, gas and water supplies to the city was also cut due to mass bombardment.

First contact between Russian and Baltic forces took place on the Narva River as Russian Guard infantry successfully crossed several bridgeheads utilising their superior experience, equipment and training as well as uncontested Russian aerial supremacy, capturing dozens of border guards in the process. In an act of foolishness, instead of organising their forces to prepare for a calculated counterattack, the Baltic Federation immediately committed scattered divisions of infantry in an attempt to win an early victory against elite Russian formations for propaganda purposes but this only served towards the high initial casualty rates.