On the war in Afghanistan and preparations for the withdrawal of troops

When it comes to the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, they usually talk about a date such as February 15, 1989. In this regard, a considerable number of people seriously believe that the withdrawal of the Soviet contingent occurred quickly - in one day. Naturally, this is not so. The operation to withdraw troops from Afghanistan to their homeland was preparing for about two years, and the first units of the USSR Armed Forces and other Soviet power structures and departments began to leave the DRA back in 1988.

The then commander of the motorized rifle and reconnaissance platoons Alexander Kartsev recalls that operation, as well as other events of the period of the Afghan war, in an interview for the Tactic Media channel.

Alexander Kartsev:

I didn’t accomplish any special feats. And I consider my main award that during 26 months of service in Afghanistan have not lost a single subordinate.

Alexander Kartsev talks about how he chose the profession of a military man.

A military intelligence officer shares his impressions of how he had to work with the local population, who knew very well that he was a Soviet officer.

Alexander Kartsev:

I had certain skills in providing medical care, and representatives of the local population were grateful for such help.

From a conversation with a military intelligence:

In contrast to the operation to seize Amin’s palace, about which quite a lot is known, practically nothing is known about how our scouts prepared the withdrawal of the Limited contingent of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. But it was no less interesting operation than the "Storm-333" to capture the Taj Beck Palace.

Interview on Tactic Media Channel:

Comments

[rocket757]

A heavy page in our history. Do not repeat this.

[Mytholog]

We entered Afghanistan because there was no other way. And they came out because the meaning of being there became controversial.
It’s hard to understand what you meant by saying:

Quote: rocket757

Do not repeat this.

[rocket757]

Quote: Mytholog

We entered Afghanistan because there was no other way.

Not obvious, even then, even in the top leadership of the USSR there was no consensus.
Why did they come out ... the answer seems obvious, but again, there is no consensus and never will be.
Do not repeat decisions / events that generate too much controversy and do not leave a feeling of completeness.

[Mytholog]

Quote: rocket757

Do not repeat decisions / events that generate too much controversy and do not leave a feeling of completeness.

Well, now it’s good to reason ... And then both decisions were recognized as optimal solutions to situations.

[rocket757]

Quote: Mytholog

Well, now it’s good to reason ... And then both decisions were recognized as optimal solutions to situations.

By whom and when were such decisions considered optimal?
The issue is controversial from the very beginning to the end.
If normal, this is the past, which should be accepted as it was.
Those leading people are not ... deeds, filed and EVERYTHING!

[DMB 75]

And I consider my main award that during 26 months of service in Afghanistan have not lost a single subordinate.

Well done man. The officer is real.

[ccsr]

There are interesting recollections of Alexander Spesivtsev, a participant in those events, who was one of the first to enter Afghanistan in 1979:

In May 1978, after the victory of the April Revolution in Afghanistan and the rise to power, as the Afghans then called it, of the great leader, the unyielding helmsman of the Hyp revolution, Muhammad Taraki, we received a “secret” message to the field communications center of the General Staff (ICC GS), but as usual, the command known to all officers of the unit, urgently prepare a communications center for shipment to Kabul.
At that time, if it was necessary to provide fraternal Soviet military assistance to a certain state, there, to organize communications between the leadership of the USSR Armed Forces and the apparatus of the Chief Military Advisor in that country, they sent signalmen and military communications equipment, usually from our unit. In the mid-70s, many of our officers had already visited Egypt, Syria, Cuba, Ethiopia.
After quick and thorough preparation, a small communications center was formed and sent to Kabul in a few days. It also included the Secret Communication Station (ZAS) with the crew from our unit, headed by Senior Lieutenant A. Sorokin. After some time, this event was forgotten in current worries.
And almost a year and a half later, on Saturday, December 8, on the 79th, I had to step into the outfit and was going to get enough sleep in the morning: I had to come to the unit only at sixteen hours, to divorce. And I was very surprised when at 9 o’clock I was woken up by a phone call. Sergey Petrik, my immediate superior, the commander of our unit called.
- Sasha, do you want to go on a special business trip?
- And where, by how much?
- Where exactly I can not say. You’ll come and find out. It is still officially unknown, but in general it seems to go where Tolya Sorokin is now. In terms of time, too, nothing is clear. Maybe for a month, maybe even more.

http://www.kandagar.su/blog/afganistan_1979_go_vospominanija_svjazista/2015-11-17-588

I know this officer personally and I can say that this is not only a former cadet, but also an honest man, so I have no doubt about everything he writes.