dec 24, 1979 - Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan - Charles

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The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December of 1979, in hopes of protecting a friendly communist government that was slowly collapsing. Afghanistan had a communist government that was backed by the Soviet Union, but the unpopularity of this government led to increased rebellions throughout the state. The Soviets started to worry that if Afghanistan’s communist like government fell, that they would turn toward the U.S., which they saw as a major threat. To prevent the government from collapsing and avoid a potential threat along their border, the Soviets decided to initially send 30,000 troops, and later send 100,000 more. In doing so, they killed Afghanistan's leader, Hafizullah Amin, and tried to stabilize the state by force. The Soviets thought that it would be a short, quick intervention, but rather, it turned out to be a long brutal war against Afghan fighters that were supported by the U.S. The war would go on to last for nearly 10 years, cost the Soviets heavily in lives and money, and is often seen as a major contributor to the fall of the Soviet Union.

“Thirty and Still Dirty: Why Do Delhi’s Roads Remain so Polluted?” Sustainable Futures Collaborative, 20 Feb. 2025, www.sustainablefutures.org/blog/thirty-and-still-dirty-why-do-delhis-roads-remain-so-polluted/.

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan | Summary & Facts | Britannica, 17 Jan. 2026, www.britannica.com/event/Soviet-invasion-of-Afghanistan.

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