How many died in the Afghan war? The Afghan War of 1979-1989.

Twenty-six years have passed since the last Soviet soldier left the territory of Afghanistan. But many participants of those long-standing events had a mental wound that still aching and aching. How many Soviet children died in the Afghan war, quite a few boys! How many mothers shed tears from zinc coffins! How much blood of innocent people is spilled! And all human grief is in one small word - "war" ...

How many people died in the Afghan war?

According to official data, about 15,000 Soviet soldiers did not return home from Afghanistan to the USSR. Up to now, 273 people are on the list of missing persons. More than 53,000 soldiers were wounded and wounded. The losses in the Afghan war are enormous for our country. Many veterans believe that the Soviet leadership made a big mistake by getting involved in this conflict. How many lives could be saved if their decision were different.

Until now, there has been a lot of debate about how many people died in the Afghan war. After all, the official figure does not take into account the pilots who died in the sky, who transported the goods, the soldiers returning home, and came under fire, nurses and nurses, caring for the wounded.

The Afghan War of 1979-1989.

On December 12, 1979, a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU decided to introduce Russian troops into Afghanistan. They were located on the territory of the country since December 25, 1979 and were supporters of the government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. The troops were introduced to prevent the threat of military intervention by other states. The decision to help Afghanistan from the USSR was made after numerous requests from the leadership of the republic.

The conflict erupted between the opposition (dushmans, or mujahideen) and the armed forces of the government of Afghanistan. The parties could not share political control over the territory of the republic. A number of European countries, Pakistani special services and US military in the course of military operations provided support to the mujahideen. They also provided them with ammunition supplies.

The Soviet troops were entered in three directions: Khorog - Faizabad, Kushka - Shindad - Kandahar and Termez - Kunduz - Kabul. The airfields of Kandahar, Bagram and Kabul hosted the Russian landing.

The main stages of the war

The stay of the USSR armed forces in Afghanistan consisted of 4 stages.

1. December 1979 - February 1980. The phased introduction and deployment of Soviet troops on the territory of the republic.

2. March 1980 - April 1985. Joint with the Afghan units conducting active hostilities.

3. May 1985 to December 1986. Soviet aviation, sapper units and artillery supported the actions of Afghan troops. Controlled the importation of ammunition from abroad. Six Soviet regiments returned to the USSR in this period of time.

4. January 1987 to February 1989. Soviet units continued to support Afghan troops in their combat operations. Preparations were made for returning home and a complete withdrawal of Soviet troops was carried out. He lasted from May 15, 1988 to February 15, 1989, led the operation of Lieutenant-General Boris Gromov.

The Afghan war (1979-1989) lasted a little less than ten years, to be precise, 2,238 days.

Heroism of the Soviet soldier

Heroes of the Afghan war, probably, are known to many citizens of Russia. I've heard all about their courageous exploits. The history of the war in Afghanistan has many courageous and heroic deeds. How many soldiers and officers carried the hardships and deprivations of hostilities, and how many of them returned to their homeland in zinc coffins! All of them proudly call themselves soldiers-Afghans.

Every day the bloody events in Afghanistan are becoming more and more distant from us. The heroism and courage of Soviet soldiers are unforgettable. They deserve the gratitude of the Afghan people and respect for Russians, fulfilling their military duty to the Fatherland. And they did it selflessly, as required by the military oath. For heroic deeds and courage, the Soviet wars were awarded high state awards, many of them posthumously.

In the list of awardees

Over two hundred thousand servicemen were awarded orders and medals of the USSR, 11,000 of them posthumously. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was given to 86 people, 28 of them did not know about him, because the reward came too late.

In the ranks of the Afghan heroes there are representatives of different kinds of troops: tankmen, paratroopers, motorized guns, aviators, sappers, signalmen, etc. The fearlessness of our soldiers in extreme conditions speaks about their professionalism, endurance and patriotism. The feat of the hero, who shielded the commander in battle, can not leave anyone indifferent.

We remember, we are proud ...

Heroes of the Afghan war do not very readily recall the events of the war years. Probably, they do not want to take old wounds, which are still bleeding, it is only necessary to touch. I want to highlight at least some of them, because the feat must be immortalized in years. The dead soldiers in the Afghan war are worthy of being told about.

Private N. Ya. Afinogenov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously. He covered the retreat of his colleagues in the performance of an important combat mission. When he ran out of ammunition, with the last grenade he destroyed himself and the dushmans who were nearby. Sergeants N. Chepnik and A. Mironenko did the same when they were surrounded.

There are dozens more such examples of self-sacrifice. The cohesion of Soviet soldiers, combat mutual assistance, solidarity of commanders and subordinates cause special pride.

Private Yuri Fokin died, trying to save the wounded commander. The soldier just closed it with his body, not letting die. Guards Private Yuri Fokin posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Star. Soldier Komkov GI performed an identical feat.

Striving to fulfill the commander's order at the cost of his life, to protect his comrade, to preserve military honor - this is the basis of all the heroic deeds of our soldiers in Afghanistan. The current defenders of the Motherland have someone to take an example from. How many of our guys died in the Afghan war! And each of them deserves the title of hero.

How it all began

The history of the Afghan war is tragic. In 1978, the April revolution took place in Afghanistan, as a result of which the people's democratic party came to power. The government declared the country a democratic republic. MN Taraki assumed the post of head of state and prime minister. X. Amin was appointed first deputy prime minister and foreign minister.

On July 19, the Afghan authorities proposed the Soviet Union to introduce two Soviet divisions in case of emergency. Our government has made small concessions to settle this issue. In the next few days, it proposed sending one special battalion and helicopters with Soviet crews to Kabul.

On October 10, the authorities of Afghanistan officially announced the sudden death of Taraki from a severe incurable disease. Later it turned out that the head of state was strangled by the officers of the presidential guard. The persecution of the supporters of Taraki has gone. The civil war in Afghanistan actually began in November 1979.

Decision on the introduction of troops into the territory of Afghanistan

The deceased head of the state Taraki wanted to replace a more progressive figure. Therefore after his death on the post became Babrak Karmal.

On December 12, after coordinating his actions with the commission of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee, Brezhnev decided to provide military assistance to Afghanistan. December 25, 1979 at 15.00 Moscow time, the entry of our troops into the republic began. It should be noted that the role of the USSR in the Afghan war is enormous, as the Soviet units rendered all possible support to the army of Afghanistan.

The main reasons for the failures of the Russian army

At the beginning of the war, luck was on the side of the Soviet troops, proof of this - the operation in Panjshir. The main misfortune for our units was the moment when the Stujer missiles were delivered to the Mujahideen, which easily hit the target with considerable removal. Techniques capable of hitting these missiles in flight, the Soviet military did not have. As a result of the use of Stinger, several of our military and transport aircraft were shot down by the Mujahideen. The situation changed only when the Russian army managed to get several missiles into their own hands.

Change of power

In March 1985, power in the USSR changed, the post of president moved to Mikhail Gorbachev. His appointment significantly changed the situation in Afghanistan. Immediately the question arose that Soviet troops would soon leave the country's territory, and even some steps were taken to implement this.

In Afghanistan, there was also a change of power: the place of B. Karmal was occupied by M. Najibullah. Gradual withdrawal of Soviet units began. But even after that, the struggle of Republicans and Islamists has not stopped and continues to the present day. However, for the Soviet Union the history of the Afghan war ended there.

The main reasons for the beginning of hostilities in Afghanistan

The situation in Afghanistan has never been considered calm because of the presence of the republic in the geopolitical region. The main rivals who wanted to have influence in this country were at one time the Russian Empire and Great Britain. In 1919, the authorities of Afghanistan declared independence from England. Russia, in turn, was one of the first to recognize the new country.

In 1978, Afghanistan received the status of a democratic republic, after which new reforms followed, but not all wanted to accept them. So the conflict between Islamists and Republicans developed, which resulted in the civil war. When the leadership of the republic realized that they could not cope, it began to ask for help from its ally, the USSR. After some hesitation, the Soviet Union decided to introduce its troops into Afghanistan.

The Memory Book

All the farther and farther away from us is the day when the last Soviet divisions left the lands of Afghanistan. This war left in the history of our homeland a deep indelible trail filled with blood. Thousands of young people, who had not yet seen the children's lives, did not return home. How terrible and painful it is to remember. What were all these sacrifices for?

Hundreds of thousands of Afghan soldiers were seriously tested in this war, and not only did not break, but showed such qualities as courage, heroism, loyalty and love for the Motherland. Their fighting spirit was unshakable, and they with dignity passed this brutal war. Many were wounded and treated in military hospitals, but the main wounds that remained in the shower and are still bleeding can not be cured by any, even the most experienced physician. In front of these people, their comrades were bleeding and dying, dying with agonizing death from their wounds. The soldiers-Afghans have only the eternal memory of their lost friends.

The Memory Book of the Afghan War was created in Russia. The names of the heroes who died on the territory of the republic are immortalized in it. In each region there are separate Books of Memory of soldiers who served in Afghanistan, in which the heroes who died in the Afghan war are listed by name. Pictures from which look at us young beautiful guys, make the heart shrink from the pain. After all, none of these boys are no longer alive. "It is in vain for the old woman to wait for her son to go home ...", these words have been engraved in the memory of every Russian since the Second World War and make the heart contract. So let the eternal memory of the heroes of the Afghan war remain, which will be refreshed by these truly sacred Books of Memory.

The results of the Afghan war for the people are not the result that the state has achieved to resolve the conflict, but the number of human casualties that counts in the thousands.