Russia remembered the 25th anniversary of the Soviet withdrawal from
Afghanistan with low-key ceremonies as the country tries to forget its
failed military adventure.
On February 15th 1989, the last Soviet army column crossed from
Afghanistan to Uzbekistan ending nine years of massive military
involvement that failed to contain the Islamist insurgency in the
strategically situated Central Asian state.
Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu set the tone for numerous
memorial meetings across the country by praising Afghan veterans as
“true patriots,” but refusing to pass a judgement on the war, which he
said is remembered with “mixed” feelings.
More than 14,000 Soviet soldiers died and about 50,000 were wounded in Afghanistan.
A recent poll conducted by the independent Levada centre found that 68 % of Russians do not think the Soviet Union should have got
militarily involved in Afghanistan, while 44 % think it was a
criminal venture.
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