In December of 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan (Wikipedia).
On 27 December 1979, 700 Soviet troops dressed in Afghan uniforms, including KGB and GRU special forces officers from the Alpha Group and Zenith Group, occupied major governmental, military and media buildings in Kabul, including their primary target, the Tajbeg Palace. Wikipedia
The Soviets then used airborne forces to secure the Kabul airport and rolled motorized brigades and divisions into the country. Within two weeks the Russians had conducted over 4,000 flights into the airport landing two additional divisions. There were 100,000 Soviet troops in Afghanistan with complete control of the region around the capitol city. All major opposition in Afghanistan was suppressed by February of 1980.
From then until 1989 the Soviets engaged in counter guerrilla warfare with the Mujahideen. These guerilla forces fought a valiant war against the occupiers with international backing.
The Afghan mujahideen were backed primarily by Pakistan, the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom making it a Cold War proxy war. Out of the countries that supported the Mujahideen, the U.S. (with Operation Cyclone) and Saudi Arabia offered the greatest financial support. However, private donors and religious charities throughout the Muslim world—particularly in the Persian Gulf—raised considerably more funds for the Afghan rebels than any foreign government; Wikipedia
The Soviets used subversion and propaganda in an effort to secure Afghanistan.
The KhAD-KGB campaign in Pakistan was a joint campaign in which the Afghan KhAD‘s (Soviet aligned puppet government service) foreign Tenth Directorate and the Soviet KGB targeted Pakistan using prostitution spy rings, terror attacks, hijackings, serial killings, assassinations and the dissemination of propaganda to dissuade Pakistan from supporting the Afghan Mujahideen Wikipedia
In February of 1989 the Soviets withdrew their forces from Afghanistan. After a decade of fighting they were unable to secure the nation. Their face saving exit and declaration of success was short lived. The Najibullah puppet government in Kabul fell to the Mujahideen in 1992.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine hasn’t come close to the initial successes of the Soviets in Afghanistan. Their occupation of around 20% of Ukraine has lasted a little over 3 years. The Russians will never win in Ukraine unless the West backs out on them.
Russian strikes on Kyiv and civilians are a sign of Vladimir Putin‘s desperation (CBS). NATO and in particular Poland have shown their solidarity with Ukraine. Recent attacks in Russia including a bombing assassination of a Russian General last week (CNN) and an attempt on Putin’s residence this week (Deutsch Welle) are hints of discontent within the Russian populace.
Zelensky has been reduced to trying to get security guarantees from US president Donald Trump (Reuters). Trump has been attempting to make a Chamberlainesque deal with Putin; offering to cede Ukrainian territory, reduce Ukraine’s military size and restrict Ukraine from joining the EU or NATO. This shouldn’t be too surprising; Trump has been trying to sabotage Ukraine for the benefit of Russia since his first term (American Oversight).
For some strange reason Trump’s pro-Russian rhetoric has convinced many that capitulation by Ukraine is inevitable. Such is the power of this dishonest man over people’s brains. Trump’s betrayal of democracy and Western ideals is unforgivable. Don’t let him punk NATO and Ukraine.
Let’s see those unredacted Epstein files.
- The Red Army vs. the Mujahideen, 1980–1989 Part I War History
- How This Subterranean Logistics Base in Afghanistan Bedeviled Soviet Invaders History net
- Ukrainian and Polish presidents show unity against Russia, address historical tensions APNews
- New Records Further Highlight Trump’s Role in Withholding Ukraine Aid American Oversight