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Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan

The total withdrawal of all Soviet soldiers from Afghanistan was completed on 15 February 1989

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The first phase of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, 1988

© Boris Kavashkin and Valery Zufarov/Fotokhronika TASS

Afghans greeting the first column of armoured personnel vehicles riding from Jalalabad in Kabul as Soviet troops returning home from Afghanistan

© Boris Kavashkin and Valery Zufarov/Fotokhronika TASS

A column of motorized infantry division stationed at Jalalabad, leaving the country, Afghanistan, 1988

© Boris Kavashkin and Valery Zufarov/Fotokhronika TASS

Afghani boys encircle a military vehicle carrying Soviet servicemen during the unit's stopover on its way home from Afghanistan

© Vladimir Zavyalov/Fotokhronika TASS

Soviet troops leaving Jalalabad, 1988

© Boris Kavashkin and Valery Zufarov/Fotokhronika TASS

Afghan woman seeing off Soviet soldiers, 1988

© Boris Kavashkin and Valery Zufarov/Fotokhronika TASS

Soviet battalion crossing the bridge across the Amu-Darya river, 1988

© Viktor Budan and Robert Netelev/Fotokhronika TASS

The first Soviet soldiers-internationalists react as they crossed the Friendship Bridge (back) over Amu Darya river on the Afghan-Soviet (Afghan-Uzbek) border, 1988

© Fotokhronika TASS

The last units of Soviet troops stationed in Kandahar, leaving the southern province as they return home from Afghanistan, 1988

© Vladimir Zavyalov/Fotokhronika TASS

A column of armored personnel carriers riding on the way from Herat to Kushka, Afghanistan, 1988

© Vladimir Zavyalov/Fotokhronika TASS

Meeting of Soviet soldiers-internationalists in Termez, Uzbek SSR

© B. Usupov/Fotokhronika TASS

A column of airborne regiment leaving Afghanistan over the bridge across the Amu Darya, 1988

© Viktor Budan and I. Khodzhaev/Fotokhronika TASS

A girl presenting Soviet soldier with a red scarf in memory of their meeting in Kushka, Uzbek SSR

© S.Rozyev/Fotokhronika TASS

Exactly 27 years ago the last Soviet soldiers left Afghanistan. Soviet-Afghan conflict lasted over nine years from December 1979 to February 1989. About 15,000 Soviet soldiers were killed, and about 35,000 were wounded. In honor to the last day of Soviet troops withdrawal, on February 15 Russia pays homage to all who valiantly defended country's interests abroad.

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