Spetsnaz (the current name is the Special Purpose Forces of the Russian Federation) is a collective term for Soviet, and now Russian, special forces primarily to perform tasks for the regular armed forces. Units of this type were already used during World War II, but their particularly intensive development took place after 1945. Perhaps at the peak of its development, the number of Spetsnaz soldiers reached about 30,000. soldiers. The troops of this formation took a particularly intensive part in the war in Afghanistan (1979-1989), suffering high losses there, often showing great standing on the battlefield and courage, but also rare cruelty towards the enemy. After the collapse of the USSR, many Spetsnaz soldiers joined such elite units as Alpha, Wympieł or Zenit. It is worth adding that the soldiers of this formation (Spetsnaz) have undergone and are still undergoing very hard physical and mental training, in which, apart from typical combat skills, they are also taught to deal with situations of capture by the enemy and interrogation or torture.
The war in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, was fought in the years 1979-1989. The parties to the conflict were the Afghan communist government, supported on a large scale by the USSR, and partisan (mujahedin) troops who did not agree to Soviet intervention and far-reaching secularization and atheization of the state. The Mujahideen relatively quickly received extensive, albeit unofficial, aid from the United States. It is assumed that the Soviet side involved about 100-120 thousand people in the conflict at a time. people, while determining the number of mujahideen is very difficult - most often it is assumed, however, that they had numerical advantage over the Soviet troops. The immediate cause of the conflict was the USSR's desire to increase its role in Central Asia, and above all, to increase its influence in Afghanistan. Soviet troops fighting in this war were part of the so-called The Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan, which was primarily made up of the forces of the 40th Army. It is worth adding that at the very beginning of the war, the Soviet army engaged about 81,000 in the conflict. people, approx. 2,400 armored vehicles (including tanks) and approx. 500 aircraft. Over time, these forces have grown significantly. The Afghan War was, like the Vietnam War, a classic example of guerrilla warfare, which, in addition, was fought in terrain definitely unfavorable to Soviet troops. Moreover, Soviet soldiers were ill-trained to lead such an asymmetric conflict. Also, the Soviet equipment and doctrine, designed for the full-scale conflict in Central and Western Europe, did not always work. Ultimately, the war ended with the defeat of the Soviet Union, which suffered a huge and prestigious defeat. It is also assumed that the war hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Soviet army probably also lost about 65,000-70,000 wounded and killed.
The war in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, was fought in the years 1979-1989. The parties to the conflict were the Afghan communist government, supported on a large scale by the USSR, and partisan (mujahedin) troops who did not agree to Soviet intervention and far-reaching secularization and atheization of the state. The Mujahideen relatively quickly received extensive, albeit unofficial, aid from the United States. It is assumed that the Soviet side involved about 100-120 thousand people in the conflict at a time. people, while determining the number of mujahideen is very difficult - most often it is assumed, however, that they had numerical advantage over the Soviet troops. The immediate cause of the conflict was the USSR's desire to increase its role in Central Asia, and above all, to increase its influence in Afghanistan. Soviet troops fighting in this war were part of the so-called The Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan, which was primarily made up of the forces of the 40th Army. It is worth adding that at the very beginning of the war, the Soviet army engaged about 81,000 in the conflict. people, approx. 2,400 armored vehicles (including tanks) and approx. 500 aircraft. Over time, these forces have grown significantly. The Afghan War was, like the Vietnam War, a classic example of guerrilla warfare, which, in addition, was fought in terrain definitely unfavorable to Soviet troops. Moreover, Soviet soldiers were ill-trained to lead such an asymmetric conflict. Also, the Soviet equipment and doctrine, designed for the full-scale conflict in Central and Western Europe, did not always work. Ultimately, the war ended with the defeat of the Soviet Union, which suffered a huge and prestigious defeat. It is also assumed that the war hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Soviet army probably also lost about 65,000-70,000 wounded and killed.