A Grim Toll: Afghan War Dead Haunt Russia

The Soviet-Afghan War was a protracted armed conflict fought in the Soviet-controlled Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA) from 1979 to 1989. The war was a major conflict of the Cold War as it saw extensive fighting between the DRA, the Soviet Union and allied paramilitary groups against the Afghan mujahideen and their allied foreign fighters. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, sending in some 30,000 troops and toppling the short-lived presidency of People’s leader Hafizullah Amin. The aim of the Soviet operation was to prop up their new but faltering client state, now headed by Babrak Karmal. The war resulted in the deaths of approximately 3,000,000 Afghans, while millions more fled from the country as refugees. The Soviet Union suffered around 15,000 casualties, and at least 14,500 Soviet soldiers were killed.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

The Soviet Union had been a major power broker and influential mentor in Afghan politics since 1947, with its involvement ranging from civil-military infrastructure to Afghan society. However, the invasion was prompted by the declining control over Afghanistan, the Brezhnev Doctrine, and the country's strategic importance.

The Soviets used their aerial power to deal harshly with both Afghan resistance and civilians, levelling villages to deny safe haven to the Mujahideen, destroying vital irrigation ditches, and laying millions of landmines. The Soviets did not foresee taking on such an active role in fighting the rebels and attempted to play down their role as giving light assistance to the Afghan army. However, the arrival of the Soviets had the opposite effect as it incensed instead of pacified the people, causing the Mujahideen to gain in strength and numbers.

The war resulted in the deaths of approximately 3,000,000 Afghans, while millions more fled from the country as refugees. The Soviet military suffered 14,453 casualties, with other estimates giving a figure of 26,000 killed Soviet soldiers. The war also caused grave destruction throughout Afghanistan and has been cited by scholars as a significant factor that contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, formally ending the Cold War.

The Soviet-Afghan War's impact on the Cold War

The Soviet-Afghan War was a major conflict of the Cold War, and its impact on the Cold War was significant. The war was fought between the Soviet Union and its allies, and the Afghan mujahideen and their foreign supporters. The war was a proxy war between the United States and the Soviet Union, and it resulted in the deaths of approximately 3,000,000 Afghans, with millions more fleeing the country as refugees. The war also caused grave destruction in Afghanistan and has been cited as a significant factor that contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which formally ended the Cold War.

The Soviet-Afghan War began in 1979 when the Soviets, under the command of Leonid Brezhnev, invaded Afghanistan to support the local pro-Soviet government. The invasion was a watershed event of the Cold War, marking the only time the Soviet Union invaded a country outside the Eastern Bloc. The invasion was met with worldwide condemnation, and the United States and its European allies sharply criticized the Soviet move. The United States, guided by its doctrine of containment, devised numerous measures to compel Moscow to withdraw, including economic sanctions and trade embargoes.

The Soviet-Afghan War had a significant impact on the Cold War, as it escalated tensions between the two superpowers and led to a deterioration in their relations. The war also contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union by undermining the image of the Red Army as invincible and creating new forms of political participation. Additionally, the war resulted in the deaths of thousands of Soviet soldiers and caused economic and political costs for the Soviet Union. The war also led to the rise of jihadist movements and the formation of al-Qaeda and the Taliban regime.

The Soviet-Afghan War ended in 1989 with the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. The war had a lasting impact on Afghanistan, leaving the country in ruins and plunging it into a civil war. The war also had a significant impact on the Cold War, as it contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.

The Mujahideen's guerrilla tactics

The Mujahideen's tactics were often brutal, and they tortured and slowly killed Soviet soldiers who were captured. They also assassinated government officials and PDPA members, and laid siege to small rural outposts. They favoured sabotage operations, damaging power lines, pipelines, radio stations, government buildings, air terminals, hotels, and cinemas. They also assassinated government officials and PDPA members, and laid siege to small rural outposts.

Mujahideen groups used for assassination had three to five men in each. After receiving their mission to kill certain government officials, they studied their target's pattern of life and details, before selecting a method of assassination.

Mujahideen groups were fragmented politically into a handful of independent groups, and their military efforts remained uncoordinated throughout the war. However, the quality of their arms and combat organisation gradually improved due to experience and the large quantity of arms and other war matériel shipped to the rebels via Pakistan.

The Mujahideen also received an indeterminate number of Muslim volunteers from all parts of the world, who travelled to Afghanistan to join the opposition.

The Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to support the local pro-Soviet government, which was facing internal rebellion. The Soviets attempted to force a military solution, but ultimately failed to break the insurgency. The war was costly for the Soviet Union, straining their economy and their international relations.

In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev sought to improve the Soviet Union's economy and international relations, and he soon began planning for a military disengagement from Afghanistan. Gorbachev's government continued to support the Afghan government, but it became clear that propping up the government in Kabul would not be enough to maintain power in the long term.

In 1987, Gorbachev announced that the Soviet military would begin a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Soviet Union signed the Geneva Accords in 1988, agreeing to withdraw its troops. The withdrawal was conducted in two phases, the first lasting from May to August 1988, and the second from January to February 1989. The Soviet Union's final column occupying Afghanistan crossed into Uzbekistan on February 15, 1989, marking the end of the Soviet-Afghan War.

The Soviet-Afghan War's legacy in Russia

The Soviet-Afghan War was a major conflict of the Cold War, pitting the Soviet Union and its allies against the Afghan Mujahideen and their foreign backers. The war was a quagmire for the Soviet Union, and its legacy in Russia is complex and multifaceted.

The Soviet-Afghan War had a profound impact on Russia, shaping its politics, society, and culture in several ways. Here are some key aspects of the war's legacy in Russia:

• Political and Strategic Impact: The war's failure contributed significantly to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It undermined the image of the Red Army as invincible and created a cleavage between the military and the party. It also led to the emergence of new forms of political participation, with veterans' organizations playing a role in Russian politics.
• Economic Fallout: The war strained the Soviet economy, with military, economic, and political resources becoming exhausted. The cost of the war, estimated at around $50 billion, was a significant burden.
• Social and Cultural Impact: The war left deep scars on Russian society, with physical disabilities, drug addiction, and psychological trauma affecting veterans and their families. It also contributed to a culture of guns, drugs, and terrorism in Afghanistan, with long-lasting consequences for the region.
• Historical Memory and Revisionism: The war's legacy is contested in Russia, with some seeing it as a necessary defense of Soviet interests, while others view it as a costly mistake. The war's memory has been used to foster nationalism and shape Russia's self-image, with comparisons often drawn to World War II.
• Foreign Policy Impact: The war influenced Russia's foreign policy, affecting its approach to Central Asia and its relations with the United States. It also shaped Russia's response to the US-led war in Afghanistan, with Moscow providing limited support but ultimately prioritizing its own interests.
• Veterans' Organizations: Veterans of the Soviet-Afghan War formed organizations that played a role in Russian politics and society. These groups initially focused on mutual support and addressing the needs of veterans but later became vehicles for nationalism and pro-government activism.
• Media and Popular Culture: The war has left a mark on Russian media and popular culture, with films, literature, and other artistic works reflecting on the conflict.

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