Russia Opens Office for Veterans of Soviet War in Afghanistan in Donetsk

Russia has opened an office for veterans of the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the city of Donetsk. The office includes an exhibition displaying war artifacts, spoils, and images from the conflict. Veterans set up the exhibition independently at the location.

The exhibition aims to educate the young generation about the war. Veterans will serve as guides for visitors to the office.

Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed head of Donetsk, praised the veterans and the initiative. He said that many veterans have experience from the war in Afghanistan. He also noted that they joined the Donbas defense in 2014.

The Soviet war in Afghanistan lasted from December 1979 to February 1989. It led to the deaths of more than 15,000 Soviet soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Afghan citizens.

This development links the memory of the Soviet Afghanistan war veterans to the ongoing situation in the region through the special military operation in Donbas. Pushilin emphasized the contributions of these veterans across both conflicts.