How Afghanistan Destroyed the Soviet Union – The Full Story of the 1979 Invasion #sovietafghanwar

In December 1979, Soviet tanks rolled across the border into Afghanistan, sparking a decade-long war that bled the Red Army dry and accelerated the collapse of the Soviet Union itself. This full 1-hour documentary dives deep into the origins of the 1979 invasion: from the sleepy kingdom under King Zahir Shah, to the bloody Saur Revolution, the brutal PDPA regime, internal communist infighting, the Herat uprising, and the daring Storm-333 operation that killed President Hafizullah Amin. Discover how a "limited" intervention turned into the USSR's Vietnam – costing over 15,000 Soviet lives, a million Afghan deaths, and helping radicalize a generation of fighters. Often called Russia's forgotten war, this conflict changed history forever. If you enjoy detailed history documentaries like Kings and Generals, Epic History TV, or Real Time History, hit that LIKE button and SUBSCRIBE for more! 🔔 Subscribe for more Cold War and military history: [Your Channel Link Here] Timestamps: 00:00 - Cold Open: The Invasion Begins 01:35 - Afghanistan Before the Storm 04:10 - The 1973 Coup 06:30 - The Saur Revolution (1978) 09:40 - Radical Reforms and Revolt 12:50 - PDPA Internal Split 16:20 - Herat Uprising (1979) 19:30 - Amin's Rise and Soviet Fears 22:40 - The Kremlin's Decision 26:10 - Storm-333: Assassinating the President 32:00 - The War Drags On 36:00 - Epilogue: The Empire's Graveyard Sources: Based on declassified archives, eyewitness accounts, and historical research. #SovietAfghanWar #AfghanistanWar #ColdWarHistory