The 15th of February is the anniversary of Soviet forces withdrawal from Afganistan. Thirty years have passed but this date remains special in the history of our country. Around a million of today's citizens participated in this war which lasted for almost ten years. Events commemorating the Internationalist Soldiers Remembrance Day are conducted today around the country.
Alexandr Sladkov's film crew went to Kabul on the eve of the memorable day. Here's his report.
ALEXANDR SLADKOV'S SPECIAL REPORT
AFGANISTAN 30 YEARS LATER
This is one of the most significant places for us, Russians, in Afganistan, Tajbeg Palace, better known as Darul Aman Palace. It was built in the 1920s. Back then, it was 10 miles from the downtown. The Germans who built this palace for Amanullah Khan advised to keep a certain distance from Kabul, which was often disquieted by upheavals and disorders. This is the main entrance. On the 27th of December, 1979, Operation Storm-333 started here, it was carried out by Grom and Zenit groups within the KGB of the USSR with the support of the divisions of the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union. Everything started here. Thus began the War in Afganistan that lasted ten years.
Soon after the battle went quiet in this palace, a team of Soviet military builders entered. One of them was Vladimir Smirnov, a colonel at that time.
Vladimir Smirnov: "I liked the first thing I saw when I came in: a huge wide stairwell. And there was a carpet hanging along this entire wide stairwell. As I was going up this stairwell, I was admiring the picture of a huge horseman on this carpet. It was clean in an aristocratic way. You see, we got used to something different: small rooms, small bathrooms. But there, the bathroom was entirely built of marble. Even the toilet bowl was made of marble, as well as the sinks. It was an aristocratic interior. It was not quite understandable for us".
This is the second floor, the living quarters that belonged to Aman. He relaxed here, lived here. There used to be comfortable rooms, bathrooms, and the door to the balcony.
This is the third floor. Look! Graffiti of tanks and Kalashnikov rifles. And here, there's an exotic bath, like a hot bath from the last century, or even from the century before last.
The graffiti was made not only by Talibs but also by veterans from the former USSR who managed to come here after the war.
"The 345th Regiment, we were here." Those are landing troops. A safe left behind by the 40th Army.
Look! "The 45th Independent Reconnaissance Regiment". Landing troops, too. "Moscow Suvorov Military School". "RKPU 119". It must be The 119th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which doesn't exist anymore. But the sign remains here.
For ten years during the war, this building housed the main headquarters of the Soviet troops. Now, it's just an Afghan foothold. Small footholds and machine gun nests are scattered around the palace. The entire palace is riddled with shell and bullet holes. Why was it guarded? Because it's one of the key commanding heights around Kabul.
Afghanistan was flooded by the Soviet troops; columns and airplanes were coming from across the USSR. 620,000 soldiers, KGB officers, and police officers fought in this war.
Alexey Romanov arrived in Kabul as a paratrooper private.
Alexey Romanov, Afghan War veteran: "I grew up in Estonia and was living in the Urals. I'd never been to a place this hot. You step out of the aircraft and the heat wall slaps you in the face. It was hot. You ride down the street and see people walking by women wearing burqas and bearded men wearing those long shirts. And they're all glaring at you".
Mujahideen forced the Russian troops to engage in combat. Vyacheslav Bocharov arrived in Afghanistan as a young paratrooper lieutenant. He says that he went on his first combat operation right off the plane.
Vyacheslav Bocharov, Afghan War veteran: "Back then, I was leading a scouting unit of 14 soldiers. During the operation, our unit was surrounded by dushmans. I was wounded. It was like I went back in time, into that episode of the Soviet military history when we were fighting the Basmachi. I saw those Basmachi people with my own eyes. They surrounded me. And I felt that the fate of my soldiers depended on me, their officer, their commander. Whether we win or lose didn't matter that much. My primary objective was to make sure that each of my soldiers got through that. Only one of my people was heavily wounded".
The USSR wasn't just fighting in Afghanistan, it also built a lot. We basically created a new economy for the country. We built 124 powerful facilities. In recent years, Moscow forgave Kabul the Afghan debt of $11 billion. The Soviet troops were helping their Afghan brothers-in-arms not only barracks but also family housing.
Vladimir Smirnov, Afghan War veteran: "We were gathering people through the local command of the Afghan Army and they began building. They were building shacks and small houses. We were giving them concrete. They brought their own stone. They were building their houses. I don't know how many of those houses still stand. But people used to live there".
The Afghan war had its impact on the Soviet society. Performers and politicians were visiting Afghanistan. A local frontline subculture was born. The ensembles Blue Berets and Cascade the songs by Rosenbaum and Muromov.
This episode of Soviet history was new, big, important, and tough. It ended with the withdrawal of the troops. 15,000 casualties. Dozens of thousands of wounded. Hundreds of thousands of young veterans to return back home. Alexey Romanov went to war the second time as an officer after military school. He was flying home on a plane which was hit by four Stingers launched by the mujahideen.
Alexey Romanov: "They gave me all those TV's, VCR players, and tape recorders, everything they've gathered over several years of our presence in Afghanistan. Some servicemen were also flying back with me. We boarded the Il-86 and loaded our cargo. I've always been curious so I was standing at the window. We had to make four loops over Kabul to gain altitude and then fly away. On our first loop, I saw a missile explode next to the plane. I'm thinking, what's all this? Then, another one goes off on our second loop. I didn't see the third and the fourth, the pilots told me about them. When we landed in the USSR the ramp opened, the pilots took a bucket of alcohol and started drinking. I asked them, "What's wrong, guys?" They say, "We got had four missiles launched at the plane".
The Friendship Bridge our troops crossed during the withdrawal in 1989. The other end is in Uzbekistan. It's the most peaceful spot on the Afghan border. The most peaceful area.
After giving the Afghans the majority of our weapons and ammunition, and all belongings, the Soviet columns were crossing the bridge. Right now it's far from being as festive as it was back then. The soldiers were greeted by their happy families. The veterans were bringing home something nobody had seen since 1945 PTSD.
Alexey Romanov: "Our APC got blown up once. Our mechanic lost his legs, our commander was killed, and I was shell-shocked. I had a dream I got my legs torn off. I have this dream every couple months and I start screaming in my sleep and then I wake up".
Russia's moved on long ago. There are new challenges and new veterans. Our society pays attention to their needs and issues. But the day of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan is still a special date remembered by the entire country.
