Military Model Scene

Title: The Soviet War in Afghanistan 1979-1989
Author: Ilya Milyukov
Publisher: Helion & Co
ISBN: 978-1-804514-63-4

Number 50 in the Asia @ War series from Helion & Co. An 86-page soft-cover book in the usual style of layout for this series.
One thing a little different for this one is noted in the Introduction, explaining how the book as submitted was chosen for publication. It notes that while it doesn't read in a fluid, easily read narrative, but a succession of detailed records of events, facts and figures which tell the real story of the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Covering the while period from the invasion in 1979 through to the final withdrawal in 1989. The chapters takes us through year by year, in chronological order. The operations undertaken by Soviet/Afghan land and air force elements are all featured, and there is no holding back on the inclusion of atrocities committed by Soviet troops during the course of the war. Against them were the various rebel groups, which were generally known as the Mujahideen but which were in fact a real mix, some with religious views and others just Afghan nationals who wanted to be free of the invaders. Chapter 2 does a good job of setting out the different groups. There is also the matter of external support for the rebels, such as the provision of portable air-defence systems, such as the Stinger and others which were used, along with aerial clashes between Afghan/Soviet aircraft against Pakistani interceptors along their mutual border. Not described as a 'War' by the Soviets, but as an 'international duty'. Despite continual losses of men and equipment, while Afghanistan has been described as 'Russia's Vietnam', there was no great public protest at home in the same way as happened in America. As noted in the Conclusion however, the costs of the Cold War and the war in Afghanistan, Russia had bankrupted itself and could no longer afford to carry on. In 1989 we saw the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan and the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
There are a lot of archive photos supporting the text throughout the book, and the central section has the usual set of colour profile artwork, with aircraft, helicopters, military vehicles and uniforms plus a number of maps. Some of the names you will read, such as Bagram air base, will be familiar to many after the more recent US and coalition campaign in the country I found myself recalling a conversation with my uncle Rex at the time of the Russian invasion, when he said they would never win. He had flown in the region with No 5 Squadron when we knew it as the 'North West Frontier' and later became a diplomat, working around the world, ending as Governor of the Falkland Islands at the time of the Argentine invasion in 1982. He felt the Afghans would fight the foreign invaders, so they could focus on their tribal feuds. A prediction which proved to be so accurate. An interesting read, packed with detailed facts and figures year by year.
Thanks to Helion & Co for the review copy.

Robin