Aleksandr Antonovich Lyakhovskiy Working Paper pp

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C O L D   W A R   I N T E R N A T I O N A L   H I S T O R Y   P R O J E C T

W O R K I N G   P A P E R   # 5 1

Inside the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

and the Seizure of Kabul, December 1979

By Aleksandr Antonovich Lyakhovskiy

Translations by Gary Goldberg and Artemy Kalinovsky

January 2007

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THE COLD WAR INTERNATIONAL HISTORY PROJECT 

WORKING PAPER SERIES 

 

Christian F. Ostermann, Series Editor 

 

 

This paper is one of a series of Working Papers published by the Cold War 

International History Project of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in 

Washington, D.C.  Established in 1991 by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. 

MacArthur Foundation, the Cold War International History Project (CWIHP) disseminates 

new information and perspectives on the history of the Cold War as it emerges from 

previously inaccessible sources on “the other side” of the post-World War II superpower 

rivalry. The project supports the full and prompt release of historical materials by 

governments on all sides of the Cold War, and seeks to accelerate the process of 

integrating new sources, materials and perspectives from the former “Communist bloc” 

with the historiography of the Cold War which has been written over the past few 

decades largely by Western scholars reliant on Western archival sources.  It also seeks 

to transcend barriers of language, geography, and regional specialization to create new 

links among scholars interested in Cold War history.  Among the activities undertaken by 

the project to promote this aim are a periodic BULLETIN to disseminate new findings, 

views, and activities pertaining to Cold War history; a fellowship program for young 

historians from the former Communist bloc to conduct archival research and study Cold 

War history in the United States; international scholarly meetings, conferences, and 

seminars; and publications. 

 

 The 

CWIHP Working Paper Series is designed to provide a speedy publications 

outlet for historians associated with the project who have gained access to newly-

available archives and sources and would like to share their results.  We especially 

welcome submissions by junior scholars from the former Communist bloc who have 

done research in their countries’ archives and are looking to introduce their findings to a 

Western audience.  As a non-partisan institute of scholarly study, the Woodrow Wilson 

Center takes no position on the historical interpretations and opinions offered by the 

authors. This CWIHP Working Paper has been made possible by generous support from 

the Korea Foundation, the Henry L. Luce Foundation, and other private donors. 

 

Those interested in receiving copies of the Cold War International History Project 

Bulletin or any of the Working Papers should contact: 

 

Cold War International History Project 

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars 

One Woodrow Wilson Plaza 

1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW 

Washington, DC 20523 

 

Telephone:  [phone] 

Fax:  [phone] 

Email:  [e-mail] 

CWIHP Web Page:  http://www.cwihp.org 

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Christian F. Ostermann, Series Editor 

 

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