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Soviet-Afghan War

Contemporary

The Soviet-Afghan War was fought from December 1979 to February 1989 after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to prop up its faltering communist client government against a growing insurgency of Islamist and nationalist Afghan mujahideen fighters. Soviet forces controlled major cities and lines of communication but struggled for a decade to suppress a rural guerrilla insurgency that operated across difficult mountainous terrain and drew extensive covert support, including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles from 1986 onward, funneled through Pakistan by the United States, Saudi Arabia and other states opposed to Soviet expansion. The war became a prolonged and costly quagmire for the Soviet Union, inflicting tens of thousands of Soviet casualties and far greater Afghan losses, including millions of refugees who fled to Pakistan and Iran. Mikhail Gorbachev ordered a full Soviet withdrawal, completed in February 1989, and the war's cost is widely cited among the contributing pressures on the Soviet Union's eventual collapse, while the power vacuum left in Afghanistan fed directly into the civil war and rise of the Taliban that followed.

Facts
Start Year
1979 1
End Year
1989 1
Combatants
Soviet Union and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan versus the Afghan mujahideen, backed by Pakistan, the United States and others 1
Outcome
Mujahideen victory; Soviet withdrawal by February 1989 and the fall of the PDPA government in 1992 1
Classification
Conflict Type
Insurgency or Counterinsurgency 1
Soviet-Afghan War
Filter Results7 entries

2K11 Krug

Soviet-Afghan War

9K32 Strela-2

Soviet-Afghan War

Blowpipe Missile

Soviet-Afghan War

FIM-43 Redeye

Soviet-Afghan War

FIM-92 Stinger

Soviet-Afghan War

R-17 Elbrus

Soviet-Afghan War

Stinger Missile

Soviet-Afghan War
Connections

Associated With

AK-74, Weapons Systems

The AK-74, chambered for a new small caliber round, was the Soviet infantry rifle of the Soviet-Afghan War

Dragunov Sniper Rifle, Weapons Systems

Soviet marksmen carried the Dragunov sniper rifle during the Soviet-Afghan War

Stinger Missile, Weapons Systems

US-supplied FIM-92 Stinger missiles given to the mujahideen from 1986 sharply reduced Soviet air superiority and are widely credited with turning the war

Source Wikipedia: Soviet-Afghan War
Stinger Missile, Weapons Systems

American supplied Stinger missiles, in the hands of Afghan mujahideen, took a heavy toll on Soviet aircraft during the Soviet-Afghan War

Uses

152 mm gun-howitzer D-20, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: 152 mm gun-howitzer D-20
2B14 Podnos, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: 2B14 Podnos
2K11 Krug, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: 2K11 Krug
2S1 Gvozdika, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: 2S1 Gvozdika
2S3 Akatsiya, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: 2S3 Akatsiya
2S7 Pion, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: 2S7 Pion
2S9 Nona, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: 2S9 Nona
9K32 Strela-2, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: 9K32 Strela-2
AGS-17, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: AGS-17
AK-74, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: AK-74
AKS-74U, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: AKS-74U
Barrett M82 Rifle, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Barrett M82
BGM-71 TOW, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: BGM-71 TOW
Blowpipe Missile, Weapons Systems
Source Blowpipe (missile), Wikipedia
BM-21 Grad, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: BM-21 Grad
BMP-2, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: BMP-2
BTR-50, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: BTR-50
BTR-70, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: BTR-70
BTR-80, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: BTR-80
D-30 Howitzer, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)
FIM-43 Redeye, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: FIM-43 Redeye
FIM-92 Stinger, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: FIM-92 Stinger
GP-25, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: GP-25
Hanyang 88, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Hanyang 88
Heckler & Koch MP5, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Heckler & Koch MP5
KPV heavy machine gun, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: KPV heavy machine gun
Lee-Enfield Rifle, Weapons Systems
Source Lee-Enfield (Wikipedia)
M134 Minigun, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: M134 Minigun
M18 Claymore Mine, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Claymore mine
M1917 Enfield, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: M1917 Enfield
M203 Grenade Launcher, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
M3 submachine gun, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: M3 submachine gun
M40 recoilless rifle, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: M40 recoilless rifle
Makarov PM Pistol, Weapons Systems
Source Makarov pistol, Wikipedia
Mk 19 Grenade Launcher, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Mk 19 grenade launcher
Mosin-Nagant Rifle, Weapons Systems
Source Mosin-Nagant (Wikipedia)
MP5 Submachine Gun, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Heckler & Koch MP5
MT-LB, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: MT-LB
Norinco CQ, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Norinco CQ
NSV machine gun, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: NSV machine gun
PPSh-41, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: PPSh-41
R-17 Elbrus, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: R-17 Elbrus
Renault FT, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Renault FT
RPG-18, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: RPG-18
RPK-74, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: RPK-74
RPO Rys, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: RPO Rys
RPO-A Shmel, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: RPO-A Shmel
Stinger Missile, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: FIM-92 Stinger
T-34, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: T-34
TOW Missile, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: BGM-71 TOW

Showing 1 to 50 of 54 in Uses, page 1 of 2.

In the Other Atlases

Same As

Soviet-Afghan War

Also in History Atlas: the same subject.

Source Wikipedia: Soviet-Afghan Wartier 4
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Soviet-Afghan War
Wikipedia
  • Lead section (start year)
    the conflict resulted in the deaths of one to three million Afghans, while millions more fled from the country as refugees
  • Lead section (end year)
    the conflict resulted in the deaths of one to three million Afghans, while millions more fled from the country as refugees
  • Lead section (combatants)
    the conflict resulted in the deaths of one to three million Afghans, while millions more fled from the country as refugees
  • Lead section (outcome)
    the conflict resulted in the deaths of one to three million Afghans, while millions more fled from the country as refugees
  • Lead text
    Marking the beginning of the 47-year-long Afghan conflict, it saw the Soviet Union and the Communist-led Afghan military fight against the rebelling Afghan mujahideen.
  • Infobox: date
    25 December 1979 - 15 February 1989 ()
View the Source
Wikipedia: T-34
WikipediaUses: T-34, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Lee-Enfield (Wikipedia)
Uses: Lee-Enfield Rifle, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: AK-74
WikipediaUses: AK-74, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: PPSh-41
WikipediaUses: PPSh-41, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Mosin-Nagant (Wikipedia)
Uses: Mosin-Nagant Rifle, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: Barrett M82
Uses: Barrett M82 Rifle, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: Claymore mine
Uses: M18 Claymore Mine, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: Heckler & Koch MP5
  • Uses: MP5 Submachine Gun, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'
  • Uses: Heckler & Koch MP5, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'
View the Source
Wikipedia: BGM-71 TOW
Wikipedia
  • Uses: TOW Missile, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'
  • Uses: BGM-71 TOW, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'
View the Source
Wikipedia: Renault FT
WikipediaUses: Renault FT, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: BM-21 Grad
Uses: BM-21 Grad, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: 2S1 Gvozdika
Uses: 2S1 Gvozdika, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)
Uses: D-30 Howitzer, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: AGS-17
Uses: AGS-17, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: M40 recoilless rifle
Uses: M40 recoilless rifle, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: M134 Minigun
Uses: M134 Minigun, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: M3 submachine gun
Uses: M3 submachine gun, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: GP-25
Uses: GP-25, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: Mk 19 grenade launcher
Uses: Mk 19 Grenade Launcher, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: BTR-70
Uses: BTR-70, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: BTR-50
Uses: BTR-50, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: BTR-80
Uses: BTR-80, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: 152 mm gun-howitzer D-20
Uses: 152 mm gun-howitzer D-20, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: R-17 Elbrus
Uses: R-17 Elbrus, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the Source
Wikipedia: FIM-92 Stinger
  • Uses: Stinger Missile, Infobox: wars
    Falklands War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Gulf War Angolan Civil War Sri Lankan Civil War Chadian-Libyan conflict Tajikistani Civil War Kargil War Yugoslav Wars Invasion of Grenada Second Chechen War War in Afghanistan Iraq War Syrian Civil War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Russo-Ukrainian War
  • Uses: FIM-92 Stinger, Infobox: wars
    Falklands War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Gulf War Angolan Civil War Sri Lankan Civil War Chadian-Libyan conflict Tajikistani Civil War Kargil War Yugoslav Wars Invasion of Grenada Second Chechen War War in Afghanistan Iraq War Syrian Civil War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Russo-Ukrainian War
View the Source
Makarov pistol, Wikipedia
Uses: Makarov PM Pistol, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: Makarov PM Pistol, Infobox: wars
First Indochina War Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Communist insurgency in Thailand Nicaraguan Revolution Salvadoran Civil War Lebanese Civil War Soviet-Afghan War South African Border War Angolan Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Burundian Civil War First Chechen War Second Chechen War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Russo-Georgian War Libyan Civil War Syrian civil war War in Donbas Colombian Conflict Russo-Ukrainian war
View the Source
Blowpipe (missile), Wikipedia
Uses: Blowpipe Missile, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: Blowpipe Missile, Infobox: wars
Falklands War Soviet-Afghan War Gulf War Cenepa War
View the Source
Wikipedia: 9K32 Strela-2
WikipediaUses: 9K32 Strela-2, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: 9K32 Strela-2, Infobox: wars
War of Attrition Yom Kippur War Portuguese Colonial War Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War The Troubles Basque conflict Western Sahara War Communist insurgency in Thailand Rhodesian Bush War Nicaraguan Revolution Uganda-Tanzania War Salvadoran Civil War 1982 Lebanon War Lebanese Civil War Iran-Iraq War Gulf War Falklands War Second Sudanese Civil War South African Border War Soviet-Afghan War War in Afghanistan Syrian occupation of Lebanon Yugoslav Wars Iraq War Libyan Civil War Insurgency in Egypt Sinai insurgency Syrian Civil War War in Donbas Yemeni Civil War Libyan Civil War Russo-Ukrainian war Gaza war Iran war
View the Source
Wikipedia: 2S3 Akatsiya
Uses: 2S3 Akatsiya, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: 2S3 Akatsiya, Infobox: wars
Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Gulf War Tajikistani Civil War First Chechen War Second Chechen War South Ossetia War First Libyan Civil War Second Libyan Civil War Syrian Civil War War in Donbas 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Russo-Ukrainian War
View the Source
Wikipedia: 2S7 Pion
Uses: 2S7 Pion, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: 2S7 Pion, Infobox: wars
Soviet-Afghan War First Chechen War Second Chechen War Russo-Georgian War Second Nagorno-Karabakh War Russo-Ukrainian War
View the Source
Wikipedia: 2S9 Nona
WikipediaUses: 2S9 Nona, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: 2S9 Nona, Infobox: wars
Soviet-Afghan War Russo-Georgian War Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War
View the Source
Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
Uses: Type 56 Assault Rifle, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: Type 56 Assault Rifle, Infobox: wars
Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
View the Source
Wikipedia: 2B14 Podnos
Uses: 2B14 Podnos, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: 2B14 Podnos, Infobox: wars
Soviet-Afghan War Lebanese Civil War Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War
View the Source
Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcher
Uses: M203 Grenade Launcher, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: M203 Grenade Launcher, Infobox: wars
Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Civil conflict in the Philippines Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991) Third Indochina War Soviet-Afghan War Falklands War Gulf War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War Gaza war Russian invasion of Ukraine 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
View the Source
Wikipedia: AKS-74U
Uses: AKS-74U, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: AKS-74U, Infobox: wars
Soviet-Afghan War Afghan Civil War (1989-1992) Transnistria War Afghan Civil War (1992-1996) Tajikistan Civil War First Chechen War Second Chechen War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Russo-Georgian War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Syrian Civil War War in Donbas Russo-Ukrainian war (2022-present)
View the Source
Wikipedia: RPK-74
Uses: RPK-74, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: RPK-74, Infobox: wars
Soviet-Afghan War First Chechen War Second Chechen War Russo-Georgian War Russo-Ukrainian War 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
View the Source
Wikipedia: M1917 Enfield
Uses: M1917 Enfield, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: M1917 Enfield, Infobox: wars
World War I Banana Wars Spanish Civil War World War II First Indochina War Chinese Civil War Korean War Hukbalahap Rebellion 1958 Lebanon crisis Annexation of Goa Portuguese Colonial War Vietnam War (limited) Laotian Civil War (limited) Lebanese Civil War (limited) Soviet-Afghan War
View the Source
Wikipedia: NSV machine gun
Uses: NSV machine gun, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: NSV machine gun, Infobox: wars
Soviet-Afghan War First Nagorno-Karabakh War Gulf War Afghan Civil War War in Afghanistan Lebanese Civil War Iraq War Russo-Georgian War Syrian Civil War Iraqi Civil War (2014-2017) Russo-Ukrainian War Yemeni Civil War (2015-present) Russo-Ukrainian war
View the Source
Wikipedia: KPV heavy machine gun
Uses: KPV heavy machine gun, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: KPV heavy machine gun, Infobox: wars
Korean War Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cambodian Civil War Rhodesian Bush War Western Sahara War Angolan Civil War South African Border War Soviet-Afghan War Libyan-Chadian conflict Iran-Iraq War Gulf War First Chechen War Second Chechen War Russo-Georgian War Iraq War Lebanese Civil War First Libyan Civil War Syrian Civil War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Russo-Ukrainian War Second Libyan Civil War Yemeni Civil War (2014-present) Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Saudi-Yemeni border conflict (2015-present)
View the Source
Wikipedia: RPG-18
Uses: RPG-18, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: RPG-18, Infobox: wars
Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Cambodian-Vietnamese War Third Indochina War Soviet-Afghan War Salvadoran Civil War Gulf War First Nagorno-Karabakh War Tajikistani Civil War First Chechen War Congo Civil War Second Chechen War War in Afghanistan Iraq War Russo-Georgian War Kivu conflict Syrian civil war Russo-Ukrainian War
View the Source
Wikipedia: Hanyang 88
Uses: Hanyang 88, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: Hanyang 88, Infobox: wars
Boxer Rebellion 1911 Revolution Northern Expedition Long March Central Plains War Chinese Civil War Second Sino-Japanese War World War II First Indochina War Korean War Soviet-Afghan War
View the Source
Wikipedia: MT-LB
Uses: MT-LB, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: MT-LB, Infobox: wars
Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Gulf War Transnistrian War First Nagorno-Karabakh War War in Abkhazia (1992-1993) First Chechen War Second Chechen War Iraq War Russo-Georgian War Boko Haram insurgency Syrian civil war War in Iraq (2013-2017) Second Nagorno-Karabakh War Russo-Ukrainian War
View the Source
Wikipedia: RPO-A Shmel
Uses: RPO-A Shmel, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: RPO-A Shmel, Infobox: wars
Soviet-Afghan War War in Afghanistan First Chechen War Second Chechen War Kivu conflict Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Syrian Civil War War in Iraq (2013-2017) Russo-Ukrainian War Gaza war
View the Source
Wikipedia: FIM-43 Redeye
Uses: FIM-43 Redeye, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: FIM-43 Redeye, Infobox: wars
Vietnam War Soviet-Afghan War Nicaraguan Revolution Lebanese Civil War Salvadoran Civil War
View the Source
Wikipedia: Type 81 assault rifle
Uses: Type 81 assault rifle, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: Type 81 assault rifle, Infobox: wars
Sino-Vietnamese conflicts Cambodian-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Lord's Resistance Army insurgency Barin uprising Gulf War Croatian War of Independence Bosnian War Kosovo War Kargil War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Boko Haram insurgency Syrian Civil War Internal conflict in Myanmar 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
View the Source
Wikipedia: Norinco CQ
Uses: Norinco CQ, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: Norinco CQ, Infobox: wars
Soviet-Afghan War War in Darfur Ethnic violence in South Sudan Libyan Civil War Syrian Civil War South Sudanese Civil War Sudanese civil war (2023-present) Gaza war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
View the Source
Wikipedia: Zastava M72
Uses: Zastava M72, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: Zastava M72, Infobox: wars
Salvadoran Civil War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Yugoslav Wars Iraq War Operation Enduring Freedom Syrian Civil War OLA insurgency
View the Source
Wikipedia: RPO Rys
Uses: RPO Rys, Infobox: wars
Quote, Uses: RPO Rys, Infobox: wars
Soviet-Afghan War First Chechen War Russo-Ukrainian War
View the Source
ZSU-23-4 Shilka (Wikipedia)
Uses: ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Uses: ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Wikipedia article text
They were also used to suppress defensive positions around the presidential palace during the initial coup in Kabul at the start of the Soviet-Afghan war.
View the Source
Wikipedia: BMP-2
Uses: BMP-2, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Uses: BMP-2, Wikipedia article text
In service since 1982, it saw service during Soviet-Afghan War.
View the Source
Wikipedia: 2K11 Krug
Uses: 2K11 Krug, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Uses: 2K11 Krug, Wikipedia article text
The 2K11 was briefly operated by the Soviet army during the war in Afghanistan in 1979 and 1980, but was withdrawn several months after the initial invasion.
View the Source
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