The Afghan war is a military conflict on the territory of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA). A limited contingent of Soviet troops took part in this conflict. The conflict took place between the government forces of Afghanistan and the armed formations of the Afghan Mujahideen, who were supported by NATO, and primarily the United States, which actively armed the enemies of the Afghan regime.

Background of the Afghan War

The war itself, which lasted from 1979 to 1989, is defined in historiography by the presence on the territory of Afghanistan of a limited contingent of the USSR Armed Forces. But the beginning of the entire conflict must be considered 1973, when King Zahir Shah was overthrown in Afghanistan. Power passed to the regime of Mohammed Daoud, and in 1978 the Saur (April) revolution took place, and the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) became the new government, proclaiming the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Afghanistan began to build socialism, but all the construction took place in an extremely unstable internal situation.

The leader of the PDPA was Nur Mohammad Taraki. His reforms were highly unpopular in a country traditionally a rural majority. Any dissent was brutally suppressed. During his reign, he arrested thousands of people, some of whom were executed.

The main opponent of the socialist government was the radical Islamists, who declared a holy war (jihad) on it. Mujahideen detachments were organized, which later became the main opposing force - the Soviet army fought with it.

The majority of the population of Afghanistan was illiterate, and it was not difficult for Islamist agitators to turn the population against the new government.

The beginning of the war

Immediately after coming to power, the government was faced with the outbreak of armed rebellions organized by Islamists. The Afghan leadership was unable to cope with the situation and turned to Moscow for help.

The issue of assistance to Afghanistan was considered in the Kremlin on March 19, 1979. Leonid Brezhnev and other members of the Politburo opposed armed intervention. But over time, the situation near the borders of the USSR worsened, and opinion changed dramatically.

On December 12, 1979, the Central Committee of the CPSU adopted a resolution on the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan. Formally, the reason was the repeated requests of the leadership of Afghanistan, but in fact these actions were supposed to prevent the threat of foreign military intervention.

It must be remembered that, in addition to tense relations with the Mujahideen, there was no unity in the government itself. Particularly irreconcilable was the inner-party struggle, which reached its climax in September 1979. It was then that PDPA leader Nur Mohammad Taraki was arrested and killed by Hafizullah Amin. Amin took the place of Taraki and, continuing to fight against the Islamists, intensified repression within the ruling party.

According to Soviet intelligence, Amin tried to negotiate with Pakistan and China, which our experts considered unacceptable. On December 27, 1979, a detachment of Soviet special forces captured the presidential palace, Amin and his sons were killed. Babrak Karmal became the new leader of the country.

The course of the war

As a result, our soldiers were drawn into the outbreak of the civil war and became its active participants.

The whole war can be divided into several stages:

1st stage: December 1979 - February 1980. The introduction of the 40th Soviet Army of General Boris Gromov into Afghanistan, the deployment of garrisons, the organization of the protection of strategic facilities and places of deployment.

2nd stage: March 1980 - April 1985. Carrying out active large-scale hostilities. Reorganization and strengthening of the armed forces of the DRA.

3rd stage: May 1985 - December 1986. The reduction of active hostilities and the transition to support the actions of the Afghan government troops. Assistance was provided by aviation and sapper units. Organization of counteraction to the delivery of weapons and ammunition from abroad. Six regiments were withdrawn to their homeland.

4th stage: January 1987 - February 1989. Assistance to the Afghan leadership in pursuing a policy of national reconciliation. Continued support for hostilities conducted by government forces. Preparations for the withdrawal of Soviet troops.

In April 1988, an agreement was signed in Switzerland between Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve the situation around the DRA. The Soviet Union pledged to withdraw its troops within nine months, and the US and Pakistan were to stop supporting the Mujahideen. In April 1988, in accordance with the agreement, Soviet troops were completely withdrawn from Afghanistan.

Losses in the Afghan war

To date, it is known that the losses of the Soviet army amounted to 14 thousand 427 people, the KGB - 576 people, the Ministry of Internal Affairs - 28 people (dead and missing). Wounded and shell-shocked during the hostilities were 53 thousand people.

The exact data on the Afghans killed in the war is unknown. According to various sources, these losses could be from 1 to 2 million people. From 850 thousand to one and a half million people became refugees and settled mainly in Pakistan and Iran.

After the end of the war

The Mujahideen did not take part in the Geneva talks and did not support these decisions. As a result, after the withdrawal of Soviet troops, hostilities did not stop, but even intensified.

The new leader of Afghanistan, Najibullah, without Soviet help, barely held back the onslaught of the Mujahideen. There was a split in his government, many of his associates joined the ranks of the opposition. In March 1992, General Dostum and his Uzbek militia withdrew from Najibullah. In April, the Mujahideen captured Kabul. Najibullah hid for a long time in the building of the UN mission, but was captured by the Taliban and hanged.

The United States of America provided great assistance in supporting the counter-revolution in Afghanistan. It was they who initiated and organized many international protests against the Soviet Union.

Back in 1980, the Islamic Conference was organized, at which 34 foreign ministers demanded the immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. At the instigation of the United States, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution protesting Soviet interference. American President D. Carter called for a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

The United States and the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf organized unprecedented assistance to Afghan militants. With their money, the Mujahideen were trained in Pakistan and China. Actively participated in operations against the Soviet forces of the CIA.

During the entire period of hostilities, the United States supplied the Mujahideen with a variety of modern weapons (recoilless rifles, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and others).

2. Literally translated from Persian, “Afghanistan” means “Silent Country”. At the same time, from the languages ​​of the Turkic group, the word "Afghan" is translated as "hidden". Both of these interpretations are perfect for describing Afghanistan - a mountainous, inaccessible country, where all the tribes who wanted to preserve their independence hid.

3. The state of Afghanistan is located in Southwest Asia. It borders with Pakistan in the south and east, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, China and India in the extreme northeast. Afghanistan is, as it were, in the center surrounded by these large countries.

4. Afghanistan is one of the most ancient countries in the world. People inhabited modern Afghan lands at least 5 thousand years ago. The rural communities that arose in this area were the first on the planet.

5. Afghanistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world along with Somalia.

Capital of Afghanistan - Kabul

6. The capital of Afghanistan, Kabul is one of the most dangerous cities in the world, but not because of the robbers and robbers, but because of the terrorists. A similar situation prevailed in another hot spot in the world - the city of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

7. The age of Kabul is over three and a half thousand years.

8. Afghanistan is a very ancient country, it was first mentioned in the chronicles of the 6th century BC. when it was incorporated into the Persian Achaemenid Empire.

9. About 330 BC. e. Afghanistan was conquered by Alexander the Great. After the death of Alexander, the country was ruled by Greek, Indian, Iranian, Arab and Mongol rulers, and then the first Afghan state arose, headed by Emir Ahmad Shah.

10. Therefore, the number of the most diverse historical monuments that this land stores is simply huge. But due to the extremely reactionary state system and strict religious norms, most of them are inaccessible to the public, and some monuments are even ruthlessly destroyed.

11. Not far from Kabul, the Afghan capital, the largest copper deposit in Eurasia was discovered. The largest iron ore deposit in South Asia is located in the same area.

12. In Afghanistan, where 99% of the population is Muslim, there is only one pig, and they keep it in the Kabul Zoo.

13. Islamic conquerors came to the country in the 7th century, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane - in the 13th and 14th centuries.

14. On the territory of this country, the very concept of an official language is absent - in different regions, different languages ​​​​and dialects are used.

15. In 1220, the Mongol warriors of Genghis Khan conquered Afghanistan, and the descendants of the Mongols ruled most of the region until 1747.

City of Kandahar

16. The city of Kandahar has been famous for its oriental bazaars for all centuries, there are several beautiful mosques and the tomb of the first emir of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah.

17. Scientists believe that one of the ancient religions, Zoroastrianism, originated in Afghanistan several thousand years BC, and Zarathustra himself allegedly lived and died in the local city of Balkh.

18. The dates of many important events and holidays of the country are very conditional, because the Afghan calendar differs significantly from the European one and is based on the lunar calendar traditional for Islam.

19.Depending on the region, many national holidays can last from two to ten days and have no clearly defined duration.

20. Afghan athletes took part in the 13 Summer Olympics, and during this time won two bronze medals in taekwondo competitions. The same wrestler became the victor both times.

Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif

21. Mazar-i-Sharif is famous for its 15th-century mosque, which houses the tomb of Caliph Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad.

22. In Afghanistan Railway lines other than the recently built Mazar-i-Sharif-Hairatan line are limited to short lines across the Amu Darya from Termez in Uzbekistan and Jeretan in Afghanistan, and a short line between the city of Kushka in Turkmenistan and Turagundi in Afghanistan.

23. Afghan drug traffickers use pigeons to transport illegal substances across the border.

24. Afghanistan became the first state to recognize the RSFSR after the revolution.

25. Darius I and Alexander the Great were the first to use Afghanistan as a gateway to India.

Amu Darya river

26. The Amu Darya River is part of the natural border with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, barge traffic is open along it.

27. Afghan cuisine is as unique as the music, because Afghanistan is at the crossroads of Persian, Indian and Turkic civilizations.

28. Afghan cuisine is one of the most ancient on the planet. In everyday life, Afghans manage with a very meager set of dishes - various options for pilaf and barbecue, all kinds of thick soups, rice and pasta, accompanied by indispensable naan cakes, cheese and tea.

29.Non - a flat unleavened cake, translated as "bread" - is the staple food in Afghanistan.

afghan hound

31. Afghan hounds are graceful hunting dogs that, as the name of their breed suggests, originate from Afghanistan. Scientists have found that this is one of the most difficult dogs in terms of training, but at the same time, Afghans are friendly, playful and love to communicate with people.

32. The national dance of the Afghans - attan, is performed, as a rule, by men. This is a circle dance in which from two to several hundred people participate. Whirling under booming drums and flutes lasts an average of 5 to 30 minutes, but can drag on for 5 hours.

33. Poetry has been a significant part of Afghan culture for centuries. People still gather on Thursdays to read poetry to each other.

34. In Afghanistan, 47% of men and only 15% of women are literate. Despite this, Afghans are very fond of poetry, and every home has at least one volume of poetry. Closed poetry competitions are held even among illiterate workers and peasants.

35. Independence Day in Afghanistan coincides with Independence Day in the UK, and is celebrated at the same time - August 19th.

Mount Noshak

37. Among the few temptations in Afghanistan for tourists in the first place is the Babur garden, founded by the Mughals, and then developing and adorned by all the dynasties of Afghan rulers.

38. This country is the largest producer of opiates on the planet. According to UN statistics, about 90% of drugs entering Europe cross the Afghan border.

39. Seasonal temperature fluctuations in Afghanistan are very significant - winters are severe and cold here, and summers are unbearably hot.

40. The homeland of carrots in Afghanistan, but it is grown in all countries of the world.

Afghan national pastime "Buzkashi"

41. The Afghan national game "Buzkashi" is a game in which the participant must catch a goat while riding a horse.

42. Football is officially banned in six countries, including Afghanistan.

43. In the tradition of the Taliban, women do not have the opportunity to get an education, work outside the home or move to another city. The main occupation of women is taking care of children.

44. Afghanistan ranks fourth in the world in terms of the number of children born by local women - on average, each woman in this country gives birth 6-7 times.

45. This state occupies the sad first place among the countries of the world in terms of infant mortality - 226 babies under the age of 5 die out of 1000 born.

Hindu Kush - mountain range in Afghanistan

46. ​​Consisting of two huge mountain ranges, the Hindu Kush is one of the most majestic and beautiful mountain systems in the world. These mountains have retained a completely original appearance and could be a great area for hiking and mountaineering.

47. Afghanistan has no access to the sea, therefore, it does not have maritime transport.

48. Traffic on the roads of Afghanistan is right-handed.

49. The highway connecting the main cities - Herat, Kandahar, Ghazni and Kabul with a branch to neighboring Pakistan - is the basis of the road system of Afghanistan.

50. In Afghanistan, beautiful mountains, valleys and lakes create an absolutely stunning landscape that remains inaccessible to most tourists.

Aul in Afghanistan

photo from internet

In December 1979, Soviet troops entered Afghanistan to support the friendly regime and intended to withdraw within a year at the most. But the good intentions of the Soviet Union turned into a long war.

Today, some try to present this war as villainy or the result of a conspiracy. Let's look at those events as a tragedy, and try to dispel the myths that are emerging today.

Fact: the introduction of OKSAV is a forced measure to protect geopolitical interests

On December 12, 1979, at a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU, a decision was made and formalized in a secret resolution on the deployment of troops to Afghanistan. These measures were resorted to not at all in order to seize the territory of Afghanistan. The interest of the Soviet Union was primarily to protect its own borders, and secondly, to counteract US attempts to gain a foothold in the region. The formal basis for the introduction of troops was the repeated requests of the leadership of Afghanistan.

On the one hand, the participants in the conflict were the armed forces of the government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, and on the other, the armed opposition (mujahideen, or dushmans). Dushmans received support from NATO members and Pakistani intelligence services. The struggle was for complete political control over Afghan territory.

According to statistics, Soviet troops were in Afghanistan for 9 years and 64 days. The maximum number of Soviet troops in 1985 reached 108.8 thousand, after which it steadily decreased. The withdrawal of troops began 8 years and 5 months after the start of the presence in the country, and by August 1988 the number of Soviet troops in Afghanistan was only 40 thousand. To date, the United States of America and its allies have been in this country for more than 11 years.

Myth: Western aid to the Mujahideen only began after the Soviet invasion

Western propaganda portrayed the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan as an aggression for the sake of seizing new territories. However, the West began to support the leaders of the Mujahideen even before 1979. Robert Gates, who at the time was a CIA officer and served as Secretary of Defense under President Obama, describes the events of March 1979 in his memoirs. Then, according to him, the CIA discussed the issue of whether it is worth supporting the Mujahideen further in order to "draw the USSR into the swamp," and it was decided to supply the Mujahideen with money and weapons.

In total, according to updated data, the losses of the Soviet Army in the Afghan war amounted to 14.427 thousand people dead and missing. More than 53 thousand people were shell-shocked, wounded or injured. For courage and heroism shown in Afghanistan, more than 200 thousand servicemen were awarded orders and medals (11 thousand were awarded posthumously), 86 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (28 posthumously).

In roughly the same amount of time, the US Army in Vietnam lost 47,378 combat casualties and 10,779 more dead. More than 152 thousand were wounded, 2.3 thousand were missing.

Myth: The USSR withdrew troops from Afghanistan because the CIA provided the Mujahideen with Stinger missiles

Pro-Western media claimed that it was Charlie Wilson who turned the tide of the war by convincing Ronald Reagan of the need to supply the Mujahideen with portable anti-aircraft missile systems designed to fight helicopters. This myth was voiced in the book "Charlie Wilson's War" by George Crile and in the film of the same name, where Tom Hanks played the role of a loud congressman.

In fact, the "Stringers" only forced the Soviet troops to change tactics. The Mujahideen did not have night vision devices, and helicopters operated at night. The pilots attacked from a higher altitude, which, of course, reduced their accuracy, but the level of losses of Afghan and Soviet aircraft, in comparison with the statistics of the first six years of the war, remained practically unchanged.

The decision to withdraw Soviet troops from Afghanistan was made by the USSR government in October 1985 - even before the Mujahideen began to receive "Stringers" in significant quantities, which happened only in the fall of 1986. An analysis of the declassified protocols of the Politburo meetings shows that no innovations in the armament of the Afghan Mujahideen, including the Stringers as the reason for the withdrawal of troops, have ever been mentioned.

Fact: During the time of the American presence in Afghanistan, drug production has increased significantly.

Unlike the once introduced Soviet contingent, the US military does not control the entire territory of Afghanistan. It is also undeniable that after Afghanistan was occupied by NATO troops, drug production in this country increased significantly. There is an opinion that the Americans turn a blind eye to the rapid growth of heroin production quite consciously, realizing that an active fight against the drug business will sharply increase the losses of American troops.

If until 2001 drug trafficking in Afghanistan was repeatedly discussed in the UN Security Council, then later this issue was no longer brought up for discussion. It is also a fact that twice as many people die from heroin produced in Afghanistan every year in Russia and Ukraine than in 10 years of war in Afghanistan.

After the withdrawal of the Soviet military contingent from Afghanistan, the United States continued to maintain close ties with the Mujahideen. Washington blocked all proposals of President Mohammed Najibullah for negotiations and concessions. The Americans continued to arm the jihadists and guerrillas, hoping that they would overthrow the pro-Moscow regime of Najibullah.

This time was for Afghanistan the most destructive period in the recent history of the country: Pakistan and the West deprived the country of a unique opportunity to end the civil war. Charles Cogan, who served as the CIA's director of operations in South Asia and the Middle East from 1979-1984, later admitted: “I doubt whether it was worth our inertia to help the Mujahideen after the Soviets left. Looking back, I think it was a mistake."

Fact: the Americans were forced to buy weapons donated to them from the Afghans

When Soviet troops entered Afghanistan, the United States, according to various estimates, gave the Mujahideen from 500 to 2 thousand Stinger portable anti-aircraft missile systems. After the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the country, the American government began to buy back donated missiles at $183,000 each, while the cost of the Stinger was $38,000.

Myth: The Mujahideen overthrew the Kabul regime and won a major victory over Moscow

The main factor that undermined Najibullah's position was Moscow's statement in September 1991, shortly after the collapse of the coup against Gorbachev. Yeltsin, who came to power, decided to reduce the country's international obligations. Russia has announced that it is halting the supply of arms to Kabul, as well as the supply of food and any other aid.

This decision was disastrous for the morale of Najibullah's supporters, whose regime lasted only 2 years after the Soviet troops left Afghanistan. Many military leaders and political allies of Najibullah went over to the side of the Mujahideen. As a result, Najibullah's army was not defeated. She just melted away. It so happened that Moscow overthrew the government, for which it was paid with the lives of Soviet people.

Fact: the USSR made a fatal mistake - it could not leave Afghanistan in time

The "Afghan unfinished construction" had a very negative impact on the USSR. There is an opinion that it was the unsuccessful Soviet military intervention that became one of the main reasons for the disappearance of the Soviet Union from the political map of the world. If the introduction of troops in 1979 strengthened “anti-Russian sentiments” both in the West, and in the countries of the socialist camp, and in the Islamic world, then the forced withdrawal of troops and the change of political allies and partners in Kabul became one of the most fatal mistakes, casting doubt on all that positive what the USSR did not only during the ten-year stay of OKSVA, but also for many years before that.

Myth: The US is rebuilding the Afghan economy today

According to statistics, over 12 years, the United States has invested $96.6 billion in the Afghan economy. True, no one dares to say how much went to the appointment. It is known that American businessmen who are engaged in the restoration of the Afghan economy, resolved by the war, have come up with a multi-stage corruption scheme for embezzling funds from the US budget through Afghanistan. According to the Stringer Bureau of International Investigation, multibillion-dollar sums are disappearing in an unknown direction.

During the Soviet presence in Afghanistan, the USSR built two gas pipelines, several GSE and CHPPs, power lines, 2 airports, more than a dozen oil depots, industrial enterprises, bakeries, a Mother and Child Center, clinics, a Polytechnic Institute, vocational schools, schools - in total more than 200 different industrial facilities and social infrastructure.

What do we know about the Afghan war? A lot and ... nothing. There are still disputes: whether it was necessary for the USSR to send its troops to Afghanistan or not, who they defended there - the people or a handful of supporters of the communist path of development, whether the geopolitical game was worth so many victims. In this article, we tried to collect and show interesting facts about this war that can help you evaluate these events.

The official start of the Afghan war can be considered the decision taken by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU on December 12, 1979 in response to repeated requests from the government of Afghanistan to send a contingent of Soviet troops into the country. However, direct actions began on December 25 with the introduction of a contingent of Soviet troops into Afghanistan and on December 27, the capture of H. Amin's residence by the forces of the Guards Airborne Division and his replacement by the more accommodating B. Karmal.

According to the data published to date, the losses of the Soviet Army in the Afghan war amounted to 14,427 people dead and missing. In addition, 180 advisers and 584 specialists from other departments were killed. More than 53 thousand people were shell-shocked, wounded or injured.

The exact number of Afghans killed in the war is unknown. The most common figure is 1 million dead; available estimates range from 670,000 civilians to 2 million in total. According to Harvard professor M. Kramer, an American researcher of the Afghan war: “During the nine years of the war, more than 2.7 million Afghans (mostly civilians) were killed or maimed, several million more ended up in the ranks of refugees, many of whom left the country” . Apparently, there is no clear division of victims into government army soldiers, Mujahideen and civilians.

For courage and heroism shown during the war in Afghanistan, more than 200 thousand servicemen were awarded orders and medals (11 thousand were awarded posthumously), 86 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (28 posthumously). Among the awarded - 110 thousand soldiers and sergeants, about 20 thousand ensigns, more than 65 thousand officers and generals, more than 2.5 thousand employees of the SA, including 1350 women.

During the entire period of hostilities, 417 servicemen were in Afghan captivity, 130 of whom were released during the war and were able to return to their homeland. As of January 1, 1999, 287 people remained among those who did not return from captivity and were not searched for.

During the nine years of the war, the loss of equipment and weapons amounted to: aircraft - 118 (in the Air Force - 107); helicopters - 333 (in the Air Force - 324); tanks - 147; BMP, BTR, BMD, BRDM - 1314; guns and mortars - 433; radio stations and KShM - 1138; engineering vehicles - 510; flatbed vehicles and tank trucks - 11,369.

The government in Kabul was dependent on the USSR throughout the war, which provided it with about $40 billion in military assistance between 1978 and the early 1990s. Saudi Arabia, China and a number of other states, which together provided the Mujahideen with weapons and other military equipment worth about $10 billion.

On January 7, 1988, a fierce battle took place in Afghanistan at an altitude of 3234 m above the road to the city of Khost in the zone of the Afghan-Pakistani border. It was one of the most famous clashes between the units of the Limited Contingent of Soviet Troops in Afghanistan and the armed formations of the Afghan Mujahideen. On the basis of these events, in 2005, the film "The Ninth Company" was filmed in the Russian Federation. The height of 3234 m was defended by the 9th Airborne Company of the 345th Guards Separate Airborne Regiment with a total of 39 people, supported by regimental artillery. Soviet fighters were attacked by units of the Mujahideen numbering from 200 to 400 people who were trained in Pakistan. The battle lasted 12 hours. The Mujahideen never managed to capture the height. Having suffered heavy losses, they retreated. In the ninth company, six paratroopers were killed, 28 were injured, nine of them seriously. All paratroopers for this battle were awarded the Orders of the Red Banner of War and the Red Star. Junior Sergeant V. A. Aleksandrov and Private A. A. Melnikov were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

The most famous battle of the Soviet border guards during the war in Afghanistan took place on November 22, 1985 near the village of Afrij in the Zardev Gorge of the Darai-Kalat mountain range in northeastern Afghanistan. The combat group of border guards of the Panfilov outpost of the motorized maneuver group (in the amount of 21 people) was ambushed as a result of an incorrect crossing of the river. During the battle, 19 border guards were killed. These were the most numerous losses of border guards in the Afghan war. According to some reports, the number of Mujahideen participating in the ambush was 150 people.

There is a well-established opinion in the post-Soviet period that the USSR was defeated and expelled from Afghanistan. It is not true. When Soviet troops left Afghanistan in 1989, they did so in a well-planned operation. Moreover, the operation was carried out in several directions at once: diplomatic, economic and military. This allowed not only to save the lives of Soviet soldiers, but also to save the Afghan government. Communist Afghanistan held out even after the fall of the USSR in 1991, and only then, with the loss of support from the USSR and increasing attempts from the Mujahideen and Pakistan, did the DRA begin to slide towards defeat in 1992.

In November 1989, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR announced an amnesty for all crimes committed by Soviet military personnel in Afghanistan. According to the military prosecutor's office, from December 1979 to February 1989, 4,307 people were prosecuted as part of the 40th Army in the DRA, at the time the USSR Armed Forces decree on amnesty came into force, more than 420 former soldiers were in prison -internationalists.

When Soviet troops entered Afghanistan in December 1979 to support the friendly communist regime, no one could have imagined that the war would drag on for ten long years and eventually “drive” the last nail into the “coffin” of the USSR. Today, some are trying to present this war as the villainy of the “Kremlin elders” or the result of a worldwide conspiracy. However, we will try to rely only on the facts.

According to modern data, the losses of the Soviet Army in the Afghan war amounted to 14,427 people dead and missing. In addition, 180 advisers and 584 specialists from other departments were killed. More than 53 thousand people were shell-shocked, wounded or injured.

Cargo "200"

The exact number of Afghans killed in the war is unknown. The most common figure is 1 million dead; available estimates range from 670,000 civilians to 2 million in total. According to Harvard professor M. Kramer, an American researcher of the Afghan war: “During the nine years of the war, more than 2.7 million Afghans (mostly civilians) were killed or maimed, several million more ended up in the ranks of refugees, many of whom left the country” . Apparently, there is no clear division of victims into government army soldiers, Mujahideen and civilians.

The terrible consequences of the war

For courage and heroism shown during the war in Afghanistan, more than 200 thousand servicemen were awarded orders and medals (11 thousand were awarded posthumously), 86 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (28 posthumously). Among those awarded – 110 thousand soldiers and sergeants, about 20 thousand ensigns, more than 65 thousand officers and generals, more than 2.5 thousand employees of the SA, including – 1350 women.

A group of Soviet military personnel awarded government awards

During the entire period of hostilities, 417 servicemen were in Afghan captivity, 130 of whom were released during the war and were able to return to their homeland. As of January 1, 1999, 287 people remained among those who did not return from captivity and were not searched for.

Captured Soviet soldier

For nine years of war P loss of equipment and weapons amounted to: aircraftecomrade - 118 (in the Air Force– 107); helicopters - 333 (in the Air Force – 324); tanks - 147; BMP, BTR, BMD, BRDM - 1314; guns and mortars - 433; radio stations and KShM - 1138; engineering vehicles - 510; flatbed vehicles and tank trucks - 11,369.

Burnt out Soviet tank

The government in Kabul was dependent on the USSR throughout the war, which provided it with about $40 billion in military assistance between 1978 and the early 1990s. Saudi Arabia, China and a number of other states, which together provided the Mujahideen with weapons and other military equipment worth about $10 billion.

Afghan Mujahideen

On January 7, 1988, a fierce battle took place in Afghanistan at an altitude of 3234 m above the road to the city of Khost in the zone of the Afghan-Pakistani border. It was one of the most famous clashes between the units of the Limited Contingent of Soviet Troops in Afghanistan and the armed formations of the Afghan Mujahideen. On the basis of these events, in 2005, the film "The Ninth Company" was filmed in the Russian Federation. The height of 3234 m was defended by the 9th Airborne Company of the 345th Guards Separate Airborne Regiment with a total of 39 people, supported by regimental artillery. Soviet fighters were attacked by units of the Mujahideen numbering from 200 to 400 people who were trained in Pakistan. The battle lasted 12 hours. The Mujahideen never managed to capture the height. Having suffered heavy losses, they retreated. In the ninth company, six paratroopers were killed, 28 were injured, nine of them – heavy. All paratroopers for this battle were awarded the Orders of the Red Banner of War and the Red Star. Junior Sergeant V. A. Aleksandrov and Private A. A. Melnikov were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Frame from the film "9th Company"

The most famous battle of the Soviet border guards during the war in Afghanistan took place on November 22, 1985 near the village of Afrij in the Zardev Gorge of the Darai-Kalat mountain range in northeastern Afghanistan. The combat group of border guards of the Panfilov outpost of the motorized maneuver group (in the amount of 21 people) was ambushed as a result of an incorrect crossing of the river. During the battle, 19 border guards were killed. These were the most numerous losses of border guards in the Afghan war. According to some reports, the number of Mujahideen participating in the ambush was 150 people.

Border guards after the battle

There is a well-established opinion in the post-Soviet period that the USSR was defeated and expelled from Afghanistan. It is not true. When Soviet troops left Afghanistan in 1989, they did so in a well-planned operation. Moreover, the operation was carried out in several directions at once: diplomatic, economic and military. This allowed not only to save the lives of Soviet soldiers, but also to save the Afghan government. Communist Afghanistan held out even after the fall of the USSR in 1991, and only then, with the loss of support from the USSR and increasing attempts from the Mujahideen and Pakistan, did the DRA begin to slide towards defeat in 1992.

Withdrawal of Soviet troops, February 1989

In November 1989, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR announced an amnesty for all crimes committed by Soviet military personnel in Afghanistan. According to the military prosecutor's office, from December 1979 to February 1989, 4,307 people were prosecuted as part of the 40th Army in the DRA, at the time the USSR Armed Forces decree on amnesty came into force, more than 420 former soldiers were in prison -internationalists.

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