Breaking News: The Soviet-Afghan War

1989: Soviet Withdrawal

The final tanks of the 40th Army crossed the Afghan border with ceremonial flags in February 1989, marking the official withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan.

1996: Taliban Regime

In August of the same year, the Taliban proclaimed the Islamic Emirat of Afghanistan, a militant Islamist regime that ruled the country until it was overthrown in 2001.

Soviet Losses

During the Soviet-Afghan War, which lasted from 1980 to 1985, the Soviet Union lost an estimated 8,000 land and air vehicles, highlighting the tremendous cost of the conflict.