“Soviet discipline on Afghan soil”: on the release of a new study on the armed conflict in Afghanistan of 1979 - 1989

The article contains a critical analysis of a new popular science book by Russian military historian Vladimir Pryamitsyn, devoted to the activities of Soviet military commandant’s offices and automobile inspections during the armed conflict in Afghanistan in 1979-1989, which was published in 2024. The analysis is done in the context of the modern historiographical situation, determined by the changes in the modern international situation. What appeals to the author of the article, in the first place, is a wide range of sources referred to, not only archival ones, but also anecdotal evidence, which is represented by numerous interviews with direct participants in the described events. A broad variety of problems under study is seen as a special merit: from the organization of the work of garrison military commandant’s offices to the daily activities of their staff and military automobile inspections in Afghanistan. For the first time in Russian historiography, V. Pryamitsyn explores practically unknown aspects of the presence of a limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan: ensuring security and order on the streets of Afghan cities, the activities of garrison guardhouses, ensuring traffic safety on the roads of settlements and areas where Soviet garrisons were located, and the organization of guard duty. The author of the book justifies the conclusion that the activities of garrison military commandant’s offices, guardhouses, military automobile inspections, military commandant’s offices of airfields significantly contributed to solving combat and everyday tasks facing the 40th Soviet Army. The article concludes that the popular scientific work of V. Pryamitsin has already become a significant historiographical event and an undoubted contribution to the study of the topic of participation of a limited contingent of Soviet troops in the armed conflict in Afghanistan.