How brutal was the Soviet Afghan war?

In the brutal nine-year conflict, an estimated one million civilians were killed, as well as 90,000 Mujahideen fighters, 18,000 Afghan troops, and 14,500 Soviet soldiers. Civil war raged after the withdrawal, setting the stage for the Taliban’s takeover of the country in 1996.

What color were Soviet uniforms in ww2?

The standard colour was an olive shade of khaki, similar to the colour used by Canadian and British forces. In practice the colours varied extensively from olive green through to pale brown. Winter uniforms were made of woollen cloth and coloured in an olive green khaki.

Why did Soviet uniforms change in Afghanistan?

Soviet uniforms changed again during the course of the war in Afghanistan. They began to abandon the simple khaki uniforms of the 1969 reforms for uniforms of a more comfortable cut. These uniforms tended to have more pockets for small items, and more importantly were camouflaged.

What weapons were used in the Soviet War in Afghanistan?

Soviet War in Afghanistan. Equipment. Many new systems were introduced and field tested during the soviet afghan war, but most had been designed and tested prior to deployment. Stinger missiles. A personal portable infrared homing surface to air missile which can adapted to fire from ground vehicles and helicopters.

What were the differences between the Soviet and mujahideen armies?

Soviet troops occupied the cities and main arteries of communication, while the Mujahideen waged guerrilla war in small groups operating in the almost 80 percent of the country that was outside government and Soviet control, almost exclusively being the rugged, mountainous terrain of the countryside.

How did the Soviet Union get involved in Afghanistan?

The Russian interest in the region continued on through the Soviet era, with billions in economic and military aid sent to Afghanistan between 1955 and 1978.