Russia Opens Veterans’ Office for Afghanistan and Ukraine Wars in Donetsk
Russia has inaugurated the first office of the Union of Veterans of the Soviet War in Afghanistan and what it calls the “special military operation” in Ukraine in Donetsk, a city in eastern Ukraine under the control of Moscow-backed forces.
This office, initiated by the veterans themselves, features an exhibition displaying war trophies, remnants of battles, and images related to the Soviet army’s presence in Afghanistan. Organizers say the exhibition aims to reflect wartime experiences and pass them on to future generations.
Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed head of Donetsk, welcomed the move, stating that many of these veterans had previously participated in the war in Afghanistan and other critical conflicts, and returned to the front lines in 2014 amid the outbreak of fighting in the Donbass region.
He added that the exhibition is intended to be used for “educating the younger generation,” with the veterans themselves serving as guides to recount the narratives of the wars. This initiative is seen as part of Moscow’s policy to link the Soviet-Afghan war to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Soviet war in Afghanistan lasted from December 1979 to February 1989 and resulted in the deaths of over 15,000 Soviet soldiers. Often called the “Soviet Vietnam,” the war claimed hundreds of thousands of Afghan lives and left profound political and social consequences in the country.
Analysts believe that by highlighting the memories of Afghanistan war veterans, Russia is striving to present a patriotic narrative of its military past and connect it to the current conflict in Ukraine.
