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Soviet Afghan War

What is soviet afghan war?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Dates December 1979 to February 1989[1]
Place Afghanistan[1]
Sides Soviet Union and Afghan communist government vs. mujahideen rebels[1]
Start event Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in late December 1979[3]
End event Soviet withdrawal completed on 15 February 1989[5]
Duration ten years[2]

The Soviet-Afghan War was the 1979–1989 armed conflict in Afghanistan between Soviet forces supporting the Afghan communist government and Afghan mujahideen insurgents, beginning with the Soviet invasion in December 1979 and ending with the Soviet withdrawal in February 1989.

Context

The Soviet-Afghan War was a ten-year armed conflict in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989, fought between Soviet forces and Afghan mujahideen insurgents [1]. It began with the Soviet invasion in December 1979 and ended with the Soviet withdrawal in February 1989 [3]. The war was part of the broader Afghan conflict and is considered a major Cold War confrontation [4]. The mujahideen used guerrilla warfare, and the war contributed to long-term destabilization in Afghanistan [2].

Documented claims

  • The Soviet Union intervened to support a communist government in Afghanistan. [3]
  • The war is described as a major Cold War confrontation. [4]
  • The conflict is associated with guerrilla warfare by the mujahideen. [2]
  • The war contributed to long-term destabilization in Afghanistan. [4]

Questions and answers

Why did the USSR go to war in Afghanistan?

The Soviet Union intervened to support the Afghan communist government against mujahideen insurgents [3].

Who won the Soviet Afghan War?

The war ended with the Soviet withdrawal in February 1989, leaving the conflict unresolved [5].

Why did Russia lose the war in Afghanistan?

The mujahideen's guerrilla warfare and the war's contribution to long-term destabilization are cited as factors in the Soviet withdrawal [2].

Sources

  1. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan | Summary & Facts — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. [PDF] Afghanistan 1973–89 - Case Studies — media.defense.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989) — americanarchive.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan | World History - Lumen Learning — courses.lumenlearning.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989): Why the USSR Invaded, Who Won ... — soviet-union.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in History