The Afghan War (often referred to simply as Afghan) was an armed conflict between the Soviet Union and the Afghan government on one side, and Western-backed Afghan jihadists on the other. The war began on December 27, 1979, when Soviet troops entered Afghanistan, and lasted for nearly a decade until the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in 1989.
We were told that this was our international duty.
The Afghan War is considered one of the most costly conflicts in the history of the Soviet Union, and was associated with a long and difficult period for all parties, both military and civilians. The war resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. It had a significant impact on international relations in the late 20th century.
The war ended with the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, which caused political and social chaos and increased conflict in the region. The war left Afghanistan devastated and divided into different factions, leading to conflict that continued even after the Soviet Union left the country. Afghanistan continues to struggle with conflict and social problems today, although some things may have changed for the better.