Battle near the village of Vakh 14.01 84 Afghan. Fighting with heavy losses in the Afghan War (1979-1989). The pilot-captain was not afraid
Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia
The current version of the page has not yet been verified by experienced participants and may differ significantly from the version verified on September 14, 2011; checks require 19 edits.
Limited contingent of Soviet troops in the Afghan War of 1979-1989. A number of military clashes of the contingent became widely known due to their particular drama and numerous losses. The most famous of these are the following.
1 Battle near the village of Khara
2 Battle near the village of Shaest
3 Death of the 1st battalion of the 682nd motorized rifle regiment
4 Death of the Maravar Company
5 Battle of the 4th company of the 149th Guards motorized rifle regiment near the village of Konyak
6 Battle near the village of Afridge
7 Battle on Mount Darigar
8 Battle on Mount Yafsaj of the 783rd ORB
Battle near the village of Khara
The battle near the village of Khara (the mouth of the Pechdara River in the Pechdara gorge near Asadabad, Kunar province) in the Afghan-Pakistan border zone, from May 11 to May 30, 1980, as a result of being ambushed by units of the 66th Motorized Rifle Brigade consisting of: a mortar platoon of 1 mortar battery, AGS platoon, mortar platoon of the 1st company of the 1st battalion. The battle was fought with a detachment of Afghan Mujahideen, whose number on May 11, 1980 was more than 150 people.
The total number of units caught in the “bag of fire” was 77 people, of whom 31 were killed, 25 were injured, 21 people died from wounds. The battle lasted from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. the same day. Enemy losses amounted to more than 100 killed and wounded. There were 36 Mujahideen corpses left on the battlefield.
Battle near the village of Shaest
Battle near the village of Shaesta August 3, 1980 - a defensive battle near the village of Shaesta in the Mashhad Gorge, in the Kishim region (height 3408), near the city of Faizabad, Badakhshan province, northeast of the Republic of Afghanistan. During the implementation of intelligence data on August 2, 1980, units of the 201st MSD - the 783rd ORB and the 149th Guards. SMEs conducted a private military operation in the Mashhad Gorge. In the highlands, the units, drawn deep into the gorge, found themselves in an ambush organized by a larger detachment of Mujahideen, in the ensuing battle - the 783rd ORB lost 49 (forty-nine) people killed, 48 (forty-eight) wounded.
[edit]Death of the 1st battalion of the 682nd motorized rifle regiment
Death of the 1st battalion of the 682nd motorized rifle regiment
Battle in the Khazar Gorge - defensive battle in the Khazar Gorge 35°18′50″ N. w. 69°38′20″ E. d. (G) (O) Panjshir province of the 1st battalion of the 682nd MRR of the 108th MRD with a detachment of Afghan Mujahideen of the Panjshir Gorge under the command of the famous field commander Ahmad Shah Massoud in the Afghan war of 1979-1989, during the 7th Panjshir operation in April 1984. During this battle, 80 people died. Mujahideen losses amounted to 20-25 killed.
Death of the Maravar Company
The death of the Maravar company - a defensive battle near the village of Sangam in the Maravar gorge of Kunar province in the zone of the Afghan-Pakistan border of the 1st company of the 334th OoSpN (5th battalion) of the 15th OBRSpN GRU General Staff with a detachment of Afghan Mujahideen field commander Yunus Khales.
On April 20, 1985, a company under the command of Captain N. Tsebruk carried out ambush and search operations to neutralize members of armed formations. Moving towards the village of Sangam, the scouts discovered the retreating Mujahideen. During the pursuit of this group, the company was drawn into the depths of the gorge and was ambushed by the waiting Mujahideen. A fierce battle ensued with superior Mujahideen forces, in which the company lost 31 people killed.
Battle of the 4th company of the 149th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment near the village of Konyak
Battle of the 4th company of the 149th motorized rifle regiment near the village of Konyak
The battle of the 4th company in the Kunar mountains - a defensive battle of the 4th company of the 149th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 201st Motorized Rifle Division with a detachment of Afghan Mujahideen and Pakistani mercenaries “Black Storks” in the Pechdara gorge near the village of Konyak near Asadabad, Kunar province in the Afghani zone -Pakistan border.
The battle of the guardsmen of the 4th MRR and the attached forces of the 2nd MSB during a large-scale planned combined arms operation under the command of Army General V.I. Varennikov, head of the control group of the USSR Ministry of Defense in the Republic of Afghanistan. Known as one of the dramatic events of the Kunar operation. During the many-hour defensive battle, the 4th company and the units of the 2nd motorized rifle battalion attached to it lost: 23 people killed and 18 wounded. Among them is the commander of the 4th motorized rifle company - Guard Captain Peryatinets. Being seriously wounded and having used up his entire supply of ammunition, he found himself in a tightening ring of surrounding Mujahideen, and in order to avoid being captured, he chose to shoot himself. In this battle, the feat of another guardsman of the 4th motorized rifle company, Guard Sergeant Kuznetsov, also took place. Following in the lead patrol, he was the first to discover an organized ambush and, shouting “Spirits!”, warned his comrades of the danger, which caused heavy fire. Being seriously wounded and having used up all his ammunition, he allowed the Mujahideen who surrounded him to get as close as possible and blew himself up with their last grenade. For this feat of the Guard, Sergeant Kuznetsov was nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and was eventually awarded the Order of Lenin (posthumously).
Battle near the village of Afrij
Battle near the village of Afridge - defensive battle near the village of Afridge in the Zardev Gorge, Darayi-Kalat mountain range, Darm Valley, Baharak district, Badakhshan province, northeast of the Republic of Afghanistan. A short battle between border guards of the Panfilov border detachment outpost, a motorized maneuver group - MMG KVPO (Red Banner Eastern Border District) and a detachment of Afghan Mujahideen field commander M. Yunus - November 22, 1985. 19 people died
Battle for Jawara Base
The battle on Mount Darigar is an offensive battle of the special forces “Commandos” detachment of the DRA army during participation in a large-scale planned military operation in the Jawar area in Khost province in the Afghan-Pakistan border zone in the Afghan war of 1979-1989. - April 4-20, 1986. Dramatic battle of units of the Afghan army during a joint military operation with OKSVA units and formations. The command of the DRA army forces was carried out by Lieutenant General Azimi, later General Garfour. In that battle, the Commandos detachment lost 63 out of 80 people killed.
Battle on Mount Yafsaj of the 783rd ORB
Battle on Mount Yafsaj - defensive battle on Mount Yafsaj - height 2540 m, in the Jarav gorge near the village of Mirheil near Ishkamysh, Takhar province of the 783rd ORB of the 201st Motorized Rifle Division with a rebel detachment of field commander Kazi Kabir (Mohammad Kabir Marzbon) - June 16, 1986 g. One of the most famous military clashes in the Afghan war of 1979-1989. occurred during the 2nd (mountain) stage of the planned combined arms operation “Maneuver” with a significant number of losses incurred. In that battle, the 783rd ORB lost 18 people killed. The course of the battle, despite receiving a severe through wound to the head in the first minutes, continued to be commanded by the commander of the 783rd separate reconnaissance battalion, Major P.V. Korytny, who was conscious for some time.
On January 7, 1988, a battle took place at an altitude of 3234 m in the Afghan-Pakistan border zone. Based on these events, the film “The Ninth Company” was made. We decided to recall the most famous battles in which Soviet troops took part in Afghanistan.
View from height 3234. Photo from the personal archive of S.V. Rozhkova, 1988
BATTLE AT HEIGHT 3234
On January 7, 1988, in Afghanistan, at an altitude of 3234 m above the road to the city of Khost in the Afghan-Pakistan border zone, a fierce battle took place. This was one of the most famous military clashes between units of the Limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan and the armed formations of the Afghan Mujahideen. Based on these events, the film “The Ninth Company” was shot in 2005. The height of 3234 m was defended by the 9th parachute company of the 345th Guards separate parachute regiment with a total number of 39 people, supported by regimental artillery. Soviet fighters were attacked by special mujahideen units numbering from 200 to 400 people, trained in Pakistan. The battle lasted 12 hours. The Mujahideen never managed to capture the heights. After suffering heavy losses, they retreated. In the ninth company, six paratroopers were killed, 28 were injured, nine of them seriously. All paratroopers for this battle were awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the Red Star. Junior Sergeant V.A. Alexandrov and Private A.A. Melnikov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Artillery played a major role in repelling the attacks, in particular, two howitzer batteries of six howitzers: three D-30 howitzers and three self-propelled Akatsiyas, which fired about 600 rounds. Presumably, the Mujahideen were supported by the Pakistani armed forces, delivering ammunition and reinforcements to the neighboring valley using transport helicopters and taking the dead and wounded towards Pakistan. Salvos from a Smerch launcher were fired at the helipad from a distance of about 40 km, as a result of which the helicopters were destroyed.
FIGHT NEAR COGNAK VILLAGE
On May 25, 1985, a battle took place between guardsmen of the 4th motorized rifle company of the 149th guards motorized rifle regiment with the Afghan mujahideen of the Islamic Party of Afghanistan and the Pakistani mercenaries of the Black Stork detachment. The clash occurred during the “Kunar Operation” - a large-scale planned combined arms operation in the Pechdara gorge near the village of Konyak near the city of Asadabad in the Afghan-Pakistan border zone. The guardsmen carried out a combat mission to search and liquidate weapons and ammunition depots and members of the armed Afghan opposition.
As it turned out, the guides were local residents associated with the Mujahideen. In the highlands, these “guides” led the company into a cauldron, where, finding itself in a closed ring, for 12 hours it fought a fierce unequal battle with superior forces of the Mujahideen and Pakistani mercenaries. 43 military personnel fought with more than 200 Mujahideen. In this battle, Guard Junior Sergeant Vasily Kuznetsov behaved heroically. Heavily wounded, he, covering the company's retreat, having used up his ammunition, found himself surrounded by the enemy, let the enemies come close and destroyed them and himself with the last grenade. For this feat, Vasily Kuznetsov was posthumously awarded the Order of Lenin. 23 servicemen were killed in the clash, 18 servicemen were injured of varying degrees of severity.
BATTLE NEAR THE VILLAGE OF KHARA
On May 11, 1980, in the Pechdara gorge near the village of Khara near the city of Asadabad in the Afghan-Pakistan border zone, a battle between units of the 66th separate motorized rifle brigade took place against a large detachment of Afghan Mujahideen. While marching on foot from the village of Barkandai towards the village of Khara, Soviet units were ambushed by Mujahideen, approximately 150-200 people strong, and, being surrounded, took on a fierce battle. This battle is one of the largest in terms of the number of losses in the history of the Afghan war. 17 people emerged from the battle, in which 90 servicemen took part. According to the surviving participants in the battle, they came out of the encirclement with a fight, fighting hand-to-hand (one of the confirmed facts of hand-to-hand combat in the war in Afghanistan. Another fact of hand-to-hand combat was in 1984). The group went out in complete darkness, dragging the wounded and weapons in the water. The Mujahideen pursued for 1.5 km along the road along the river, but did not realize that the remnants of the encircled unit had leaked past them in the water. According to some reports, enemy losses amounted to 120 killed and seriously wounded.
BATTLE ON MOUNT JAFSADJ
On June 17, 1986, on Mount Yafsaj at an altitude of 2540 m in the Jarav gorge near the village of Mirheil in Takhar province, a battle took place between the 783rd separate reconnaissance battalion - the “Kunduz Reconnaissance Battalion” and a detachment of Mujahideen field commander Kazi Kabir. The clash took place during the large-scale combined arms operation “Maneuver”. The landing force was supposed to eliminate the transshipment base in the Mugulan, Cholbakhir, Tali-Gobang mountain range in the Ishkamysh region, which supplies weapons and ammunition to rebel units and stronghold settlements under their control in the northeastern part of the Republic of Afghanistan. In addition, it was assumed that the field commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was in the combat area, would be captured.
The 783rd separate reconnaissance battalion was literally landed on the main strong point of the fortified area and found itself in a zone of continuous fire damage. There was a mistake by the commander of the helicopter squadron of the 335th separate helicopter regiment at the landing site, almost 8 km northwest of the planned landing point, which led to significant losses of personnel at the very beginning of the operation. The planned landing point was prepared for the landing by preliminary artillery and aviation fire. However, the landing began in an unprepared area directly under direct enemy fire from commanding heights; the first wave of reconnaissance troops landed on an absolutely unsuppressed enemy. Having taken advantageous positions at that time, the landing party immediately entered the battle. The absence of an element of surprise in the attack of the 783rd ORB, due to the leak of information about the time and details of the planned operation, the actual numerical advantage of the Mujahideen, as well as their competent use of the strategic position in the highlands led to a compression of the encirclement and blocked the scouts' escape routes. At CP 201 MSD they continued to mistakenly believe that the landing force had been landed correctly, until the commander of the 783rd ORB, Major P.V. Korytny on the radio did not convince them that they were in a completely different place. Only on the morning of June 18, SU-25 attack aircraft and Mi-24 combat helicopters were sent to the actual battle area, which were aimed at the targets by landing forces. Also, thanks to the reinforcements sent, the landing party was able to capture the fortified area, weapons and ammunition depots and destroy the infrastructure of the transshipment base. In this battle, the 783rd ORB lost 18 killed, more than 15 servicemen were injured.
Tatar shuravi – 38
‘’According to the definition of the famous Chinese historian Li Hsin-chuan,
the Tatars were divided into shu-dada (shu-tata) and shen-dada (sheng-tata),
that is, “cultured, mature, familiar”
and “wild, immature, unfamiliar.”
In addition, the Liao Shi (History of the Liao Empire) states,
that the Tatars were divided into bai-dada (white Tatars)
and Hey-Dada (Black Tatars).
Zhao Hong considered Genghis Khan a Black Tatar
(according to historical information, Genghis Khan was red-bearded and blue-eyed).
Zhao Hong considered everyone to be Black Tatars
commanders, ministers and dignitaries of Genghis Khan’’.
Nasrtdinov Akhat Gabdullovich
Private, driver,
genus. 4.7.1968 in the village. New Ibraikino, Aksubaevsky district, Tat. ASSR.
Tatar.
He worked on the collective farm "Usyar" in Aksubaevsky district.
In Arms. The forces of the USSR were called up on October 15, 1986 by the Komsomolsk RVC in Naberezhnye Chelny.
In Rep. Afghanistan since July 1987.
Made more than 60 flights to deliver fuel and lubricants to combat units and subunits. On June 16, 1988, during the next flight on the route Kabul - Bagram, a convoy of tankers was fired upon by rebels. Having shown high professionalism. skills, N. took the car out of the fire zone.
While repelling the attack, the pr-ka died.
He was buried in his native village.
Nasybullin Rustem Khusnullovich
Private, grenade launcher gunner
genus. 02/26/1962 in Kazan Tat. ASSR.
Tatar.
He worked at the Dvigatelmontazh trust in Kazan.
In Arms. The forces of the USSR were called up on 2.4.82 by the Moscow RVC of Kazan.
In Rep. Afghanistan since June 1982.
Motorized rifle, the company in which he served, was allocated on May 2, 1983 to escort a convoy of vehicles transporting valuable material. Not far from Kandahar, rebels fired at a convoy.
In battle N. acted boldly, suppressing 2 fires. rebel points.
Died, wounded by grenade fragments.
Load hord. Red Star (posthumously).
He was buried in his hometown.
Nasyrov Danil Mirsultanovich
Lieutenant, anti-tank commander, platoon, born 10/22/1961 in Gorlovka Donets, region. Ukrainian SSR. Tatar.
In Arms. USSR forces from 5.8.79.
Graduated from Khmelnitsky VACU.
In Rep. Afghanistan since March 1985.
On June 8, 1985, rebels attacked the guarded facility, of which he was the chief of guard. N. skillfully organized the defense. He was seriously wounded, but continued to lead the battle until he lost consciousness.
He died from his wounds on June 11, 1985 in the hospital.
For courage and valor. hord. Red Star (posthumously).
Buried at home.
Nafikov Khamit Muginovich
NAFIKOV Khamit Muginovich,
lieutenant, commander of the special forces group,
genus. 12/20/1960 in the village. Sharama, Nizhneserginsky district, Sverdlov, region.
Tatar.
In Arms. USSR forces since 1.8.78.
After Sverdlovsk SVU he graduated from Ryazan VVDKU.
Skillfully commanded a special forces group. On August 15, 1984, while performing the next combat mission, his group was discovered by pr-k.
In an unequal battle, N. showed courage and bravery.
Being surrounded by rebels, he shot back to the last bullet.
He died in this battle.
Load hord. Lenin (posthumously).
Buried in the village. Ufa-Shigiri.
There is a street named after him.
In the city of Mikhailovka, a memorial plaque was installed on the house where his father lives.
(20.12.1960 - 15.08.1984)
Khamit Nafikov was born on December 20, 1960 in the village of Ufa-Shigiri, Nizhneserginsky district, Sverdlovsk region.
In 1976, he graduated from eight classes at a school in the city of Mikhailovsk, where his family moved in 1972.
Relatives remember:
“... for us he was a gentle, loving friend. Although outwardly he was always restrained and unperturbed, his warm, loving, brave, noble heart was always felt. A real man, master of his words and actions...”
After school, Khamit entered the Sverdlovsk Suvorov Military School, from which he graduated in 1978. Then he studied at the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School. After graduating from college, since 1982, Lieutenant Nafikov has been serving in the TurkVO (15th special forces brigade in Chirchik).
In the fall of 1983, he was sent to Afghanistan, to the 2nd company of the 1st separate special forces battalion (military unit 35651, Jalalabad).
On August 15, 1984, near Mount Markoh, Nangarhar province, Lieutenant Nafikov’s group blocked the path of a retreating gang of dushmans. When the cartridges and grenades ran out, the scouts entered into hand-to-hand combat. Left alone, Hamit, with a knife in his hands, repelled the attacks of brutal enemies several times. All attempts to capture him alive failed, and he was shot at point-blank range with machine guns.
From a letter from a company commander to his brother:
“... I can’t help but write to you, because Khamit was not just a subordinate for me, but a friend.
Death has truly snatched from us one of the best, and his place cannot be filled by anyone... When our command came to the heads of local authorities, they immediately learned that the news of Hamit’s heroic deed had already reached here. First of all, they proposed to honor the memory of the Soviet soldier with a minute of silence. Even his enemies appreciated his courage. This was conveyed to us through the relevant authorities, which we trust... Almost everything here resembles him... Here is his report for the next vacation, which I never signed...”
Khamit Nafikov was posthumously awarded the Order of Lenin.
He was buried in his native village.
Khamit’s father, Mugin Mubarakovich, lives in the city of Mikhailovsk, Nizhneserginsky district.
The memory of Tatar special forces soldier Khamit Nafikov was honored in the Sverdlovsk region - Tatarlar.ru 08/02/2010. 23:12
***
On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the creation of the Airborne Forces in the Sverdlovsk region, a motor rally “Polevskoy - Mikhailovsk - Ufa-Shigiri” was held, dedicated to the significant date, as well as to Tatar special forces soldier Khamit Nafikov, who died in Afghanistan.
A column of a dozen cars with paratroopers, cadets and combat veterans drove along the roads of the Sverdlovsk region for more than 200 km. The final destination of the rally was the Tatar village of Ufa-Shigiri, Nizhneserginsky district - the birthplace of the hero of the Afghan war, Khamit Nafikov.
In an unequal battle near Mount Markoh, Nangarhar province, Hamit and 3 of his subordinates fired all their ammunition and began hand-to-hand combat. All attempts to capture him failed, and he was shot point-blank with machine guns.
As reserve lieutenant colonel Nail Fazylov said, the essence of the feat is not that Nafikov destroyed so many Mujahideen in hand-to-hand combat: “The point is that the Mujahideen themselves were amazed by the heroism and professionalism of our soldier. And the elders of the Pashtun tribe were forced to recognize him as the messenger of Allah.”
The officer’s feat so impressed the elders of the Pashtun tribe that they asked the command of the Soviet troops to allow him to be buried in their land so that they could educate their soldiers by his example. Having received a refusal, the Afghans promised that there would be no more attacks by dushmans on Soviet soldiers in Nangarhar, and they kept their word. Nail Fazylov: “Not a single one of our Soviet shuravis, soldiers, paratroopers, tankers died! This is thousands of lives saved! Thanks to Hamit and his 3 subordinates."
Lieutenant Nafikov was posthumously awarded the Order of Lenin. Twice he was nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, but the documents did not pass the relevant authorities. The main goal of the rally, according to the participants, is for modern Russia to know and remember its heroes.
Participants in the rally laid flowers at the grave of their comrade and met with his relatives. Khamit's father Mugim Nafikov was presented with a memorial sign for the 80th anniversary of the Airborne Forces.
Alfiya Gabdusheva, Tatar-inform
Nigmatulin Rafael Anvarovich
NIGMATULIN Rafael Anvarovich
private, driver,
genus. 01/01/1965 in the village. Kara-gai-Pokrovka, Kuvandyk district, Orenburg, region.
Tatar.
He worked as a tractor driver at the Vysotny state farm.
In Arms. The forces of the USSR were called up on 30.3.83 by the Kuvandyk GVK.
In Rep. Afghanistan since June 1983.
11/10/84 made a flight to deliver food to Afg. to the population.
On one section of the route, his car was blown up by a mine. N., having been seriously wounded, died on November 30, 1984.
Load hord. Red Star (posthumously).
Buried in the village. Karagai-Pokrovka.
Nigmatzyanov Rinat Akhatovich
Lieutenant, tank commander, platoon,
genus. 10.6.1958 in the village. Rybnaya Sloboda Tat. ASSR.
Tatar.
In Arms. Forces of the USSR since 31.7.75.
Graduated from Kazan Higher Technical School.
In Rep. Afghanistan since Dec. 1979.
Repeatedly took part in combat operations.
In battles he confidently commanded his subordinates.
10/17/1980 died as a result of careless handling of weapons.
He was buried at the Novo-Tatar cemetery in Kazan.
Nizameev Lenar Azatovich
NIZAMEEV Lenar Azatovich,
lieutenant, deputy special forces company commander for technical parts,
genus. 9.8.1963 in the village. Tonkoye, Totsk district, Orenburg region.
Tatar.
In Arms. USSR forces from 5.8.81.
Graduated from Kazan Higher Technical School.
In Rep. Afghanistan since Nov. 1986.
He took part in 4 combat operations. He showed courage, bravery and high professionalism. preparation. On March 28, 1987, as part of a unit, he carried out a combat mission in the province of Farah. While moving forward, the company was suddenly fired upon by the rebels. Commanding the cover group, N. ensured the entry into battle of Ch. unit forces.
He died in this battle.
Load hord. Red Star (posthumously).
He was buried at the Sorochinsky Muslim Cemetery, Orenburg, region.
His name is included on a memorial, a plaque at the monument to internationalist soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
Niyazov Marx Sibgatovich
Sergeant, commander of the special forces squad,
genus. 8.7.1962 in the village. Takhtagul, Vagai district, Tyumen, region.
Tatar.
He worked as a tractor driver on the collective farm named after. Kalashnikov.
In Arms. The forces of the USSR were called up on 30.3.82 by the Tobolsk OGVK Tyumen, region.
In Rep. Afghanistan since Nov. 1982.
He took part in combat operations.
Showed courage, bravery and dedication.
2.9.83, when capturing the dominant height, acted in the capture group.
Commanding the squad, he completed the assigned task without loss.
At the same time, he personally destroyed 5 fires. points.
On January 14, 1984, for 4 hours he fought an unequal battle with the rebels in the area of the village of Waka, Kabul province.
Having used up the cartridges, he blew himself up with the last grenade, but did not surrender.
Load hord. Red Star (posthumously).
Buried in the village. Mukhina-Malkovo, Vagai district.
“9th Company” is watched by all of Russia. The filmmakers stated that the plot was based on real events of the Afghan war. And their participants say that the movie is very far from the nightmare that they experienced more than two decades ago.
The NOISE of Moscow waking up penetrates through the casement windows. The pain, like a narrow blade, pierces the left side of the chest. How many years have passed since then? More than twenty five.
And before our eyes are our soldiers, machine guns growling angrily in their backs, tearing out pieces of flesh with hot bullets. And I can’t hide from this vision by covering myself with a blanket, I can’t hide from their eyes looking at me through the decades. Lord, why do I need such a cross?
This is not just the repentance of Lieutenant Igor KOTOV, who fought in Afghanistan, this is his personal tragedy. 25 years ago he was betrayed by his big commanders. He did not abandon his soldiers, but he shot one of them in that battle, mistaking him for an enemy in the pitch darkness. He decided to express all the pain that had tormented him these years through AiF.
The pilot-captain was not afraid
Of the 90 people who took part in the battle near the Afghan village of Khara on May 11, 1980, only 12 came out alive. I am one of them.
Then we had to use the forces of the battalion to oust the rebels from the gorge, which our troops could not take for two years. Five o'clock in the morning. The helicopter regiment dropped us off at the village at the bottom of the gorge. It was necessary to disperse along the mountain slopes.
Mountains rose to the right and left. On the right is the Kunar River. We had just entered the village when machine gun fire sprayed from the tops of the mountains. About 10 of our soldiers fell dead into the sand. The company, knocked down by fire, ran into the river as fast as it could. It was stupidity, but the river seemed to us the only and safe place. The dushmans finished off seriously wounded soldiers with knives on the shore. Those who managed to reach the water were carried away by the current, and the Afghans shot them like targets at a shooting range.
Lieutenant Seryoga Zakolodyazhny (largely thanks to him, 12 people were saved) and a group settled in a three-story house on the outskirts of the village. We broke through to him. There were many Afghans, about seventy people. Taking refuge in the house, in a short time we withstood more than fifteen frantic attacks. In one of the rooms we put the seriously wounded. By 11 o'clock in the morning it is impossible to enter it - your feet are sliding on the blood-soaked floor. In the other, six of them are dead.
Snipers are shooting from the opposite bank, and losses are increasing every minute. And the radio station works like a Swiss watch, and we always ask for help. At the battalion headquarters on the “Mainland” they know about our every step. But they do nothing to save us, although there are other companies of the battalion nearby. Then Zakolodyazhny and I called fire on ourselves. The artillerymen who were nearby quickly accepted our coordinates. The first shell split the air in front of us, and dozens of dushmans, finding themselves at the epicenter of the explosion, seemed to be licked off the mountainside by a tongue. While adjusting the artillery, I asked to move the fire 50 meters further, but a shell fell on the second company, which was entrenched at a height of one and a half kilometers from us, killing two soldiers. After that, we were denied artillery support, and our hopes deflated like a burst balloon. When they refused to give us turntables, we buried ourselves alive. By 12 o'clock there were about 20 combat-ready soldiers left in our house.
Suddenly there was a noise of propellers. Helicopter! Many had tears in their eyes. As a rule, Mi-8MT helicopters fly in pairs. One carries out the task, the second provides covering fire. This one arrived ALONE. Later I was able to meet that pilot. I regret not asking for his address. I’m saying now: “Captain, you can’t even imagine how much courage you put into us by flying to the rescue. We survived thanks to you.” Now I know that in fact the “turntables” did not fly because the engine did not pull - it was just that the commander of the helicopter regiment chickened out, afraid of heavy losses. Only the captain was not afraid.
Promedol - the drug of war
AFTER the helicopter cleared the tops of the mountains where the Afghans were sitting, there was silence for a long three hours. There were no attacks, only single shots from snipers knocked out unwary soldiers from our ranks. All we could do to help the wounded was to inject them with a “horse dose” of promedol, a war drug, so that they would die quietly. I still remember the groans of one guy persistently asking for water. When he drank from the remaining moisture, collected bit by bit from different flasks, he died instantly.
By evening, Afghan heavy machine guns nevertheless set fire to the wooden roof of our shelter with tracers. Of the living, huddled against the walls and ground of the mud hut, littered with the bloody remains of the soldiers, only 12 people remained.
Ten o'clock. The burning roof pressed us to the ground with unbearable heat. Taking advantage of the darkness, he went to look for an escape route. But even in the roar of machine guns and machine guns behind me, the impacts of the soles of my mountain boots with iron claws could be heard. Then I took them off. In thick woolen socks, quietly moving upward and hearing my heart drumming on my ribs, I prayed that its pounding would not reach the ears of the two “spirits” who stood three steps away from me. In a cold sweat, I convulsively clenched my machine gun and, firing a long burst at them, jumped off the cliff.
I don’t remember how long I flew down. It seemed to me that I was being pursued, and I rushed to run headlong and without making out the road. And at that moment, when I had not yet dealt with my “demons,” three shadows appeared from the darkness at me, like ghosts, sparkling with their pupils. It seemed to me that the “spirits” I had killed had returned for me. I pulled the trigger and only when I heard the ringing cry of “Mom!”, I realized that it was ours. I was shaking: I had killed my soldier.
At that moment I wanted to die. I climbed into the river with my head and sat under the water for about two minutes. The others joined in. Everyone carried the wounded on their shoulders, moving their legs with difficulty. The remnants of the loyal company, tired, exhausted, escaped from the encirclement in pitch darkness.
Seryoga, I’ll cover you, go away,” I whispered to the commander. And he asked the remaining soldiers for grenades. Having collected about ten of them, I changed the magazine of my AK-74, walked along the shore to the burning house, wet, with one single goal - to take revenge on the dushmans for the soldier I killed.
There was a little more than thirty meters left to the burning house when I saw two “spirits” in the reflection of the blazing fire. It seems that I spent my entire supply of grenades on them, leaving only one for myself. He beat another one with a machine gun, hitting him with the butt and barrel in the head and chest. I don’t remember how I ended up on the shore again. Then I only found out that Zakolodyazhny had returned for me.
We walked up to our necks in icy water, dragging the wounded on our backs, and thought only that the dushmans pursuing us would not think of inspecting the river. Their bright flashlights glided to the side along the road above.
Cowards are heroes, and those who survive are outcasts
I remember EVERYTHING else as if I was delirious. When we arrived at the battalion headquarters, ALL the command was sleeping peacefully, having previously had a hearty dinner. The next day we were interrogated by some plump general in camouflage, who specially flew to us by helicopter. I can still hear his swearing as clearly as the screams of the dead boys on the banks of the Kunar River. I see Seryozhka, wearily bowing his head, as if he took all the blame for the death of the company upon himself.
Only 12 out of 90 people escaped the death trap. Devoted but unbroken, we still had to endure the caustic accusations of cowardice and panic. We did not yet know that we would be blamed for the death of the first company of the battalion of the 66th separate motorized rifle brigade.
We were left to the mercy of fate by our command, deprived of fire support from artillery and aviation, and died in the fire, just three kilometers from the main forces of the battalion. I know that the platoon commanders approached the acting battalion commander, Captain Kosinov, with a request to carry out a rescue raid, but they were refused. But Captain Knyazev, the commander of the mortar battery, having at his disposal two mortars and more than two hundred mines, did not organize fire cover despite the presence of communications. Only senior lieutenant Alik Mamyrkulov, having selected volunteers, voluntarily moved to our aid. Thanks to him, too, 12 of us remained alive.
After that meat grinder, the holder of the Order of the Red Star, Captain Knyazev, drank as much as he had never drunk in his life, putting what is called the “twenty-first finger” on his unit. And in the grip of “delirium tremens” he shot his platoon senior lieutenant. Captain Kosinov “nominated” himself for the Order of the Red Banner.
