Ukraine Battles 2014: Ilovaisk & Debal'tseve

Initially scheduled for Modern War #68 (September 2023), Ukraine Battles is a grand tactical two-player simulation (battalion-brigade level) of the battles fought in the Donbass in 2014-2015. The game system incorporates the tactical and operational lessons learned from the operations in Ukraine, including tactical and operational drones, improved sub munitions, expanded range and lethality of artillery and MRLS systems, improved thermobaric ammunitions, Russian Battalion Tactical Groups, artillery radars, PSYOPs, Special Forces (Spetsnaz) as combat force multipliers, or networked Anti-Aircraft (AA) systems. The system simulates armor superiority, reactive armor, Shtora systems vs. Anti-Tank (AT) missiles and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), defensive positions and pre-arranged artillery fire, as well as the difficulties of command control and coordination of hybrid armies formed by regulars and militias. Each game turn represents two to three days, each hex represents 10km or 6 miles, and combat units range from battalions to brigade sized units.