This book is dedicated to main events of the war between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR; colloquially ‘Soviet Union’) and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (until November 1987, and then the Republic of Afghanistan), which began in December 1979 and lasted for more than nine years, ending in February 1989.

On 25 December 1979, the 40th Army of the Soviet Armed Forces was officially deployed to Afghanistan. The 108th Motor-Rifle Division crossed the Soviet-Afghan border near the town of Termez, and then advanced to Kabul, reaching the city two days later. Units of the 5th Guards Motor-Rifle Division entered Afghanistan during the night from 26 to 27 December and headed south for Herat and Shindand, and then for Kandahar. Units of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division landed at airports of Kabul and Baghram, and secured both by 27 December. Later on, the 201st Motor-Rifle Division was deployed to Afghanistan. Official explanation provided to officers, non-commissioned officers, and other ranks of the Soviet Armed Forces was that they are carrying out an ‘international duty’ in Afghanistan. What exactly that was: nobody knew. Thus began the Soviet military intervention that was to last for ten years.