Aleksandr Antonovich Lyakhovskiy Working Paper pp

 

A reconnaissance company of the 345

th

 Independent Parachute Regiment, augmented by a ZU-23 anti-aircraft squad 

and nine “Zenit” troops was selected to seize the radiotelevision  center. The reconnaissance company had been 

transferred from Bagram to Kabul on 21 December with this end in mind and situated not far from our 

communications center. 

 

 

The company commander Sr. Lt. Aleksander Popov and the head of the “Zenit” group Maj. Anatoly  

Ryabinin were briefed about the upcoming mission ahead of time. It was stipulated that the seizure of the outer 

grounds of the target and the destruction of the weapons were to be performed by the paratroopers, but the “Zenit” 

troops were to operate inside the buildings. 

 

 

They understood that the success of the battle could be ensured only by careful preparation and therefore they 

took it very seriously. Ryabinin had twice managed to visit the facility earlier. As an automation engineer he 

discovered where the radio and television studios were located from which broadcasts were made; their switching 

networks; and the main and reserve electrical power supply.  

 

 

First, Popov drove around the radiotelevision complex with “Zenit” troops, determining its general layout and 

the main approaches to it. Changing into civilian clothes, the company commander, together with platoon commanders 

Lts. Devyatovskiy and Chibinov, then conducted detailed reconnoitering of the routes leading to the facility, the 

location of entrances and exits, guard posts, and weapons. 

 

 

Popov and Lt. S. Loktev drew up a plan to seize the target, a diagram of the guard posts, and the location of 

combat equipment and barracks, and allocated men and equipment and calculated the time to reach the target via 

various routes. 

 

 

They planned to seize the grounds of the radiotelevision center from two directions: from the right – from the 

direction of the American Embassy two platoons under deputy company command Lt. Loktev would cut off the crews 

from their tanks and then either them or seize them;  from the left – from the direction of the main entrance with the 

men of a reconnaissance platoon, the HQ section, and the anti-aircraft squad, they would break down the gates, burst 

into the target’s grounds and support the operations of the seizure group. Two alternatives were provided: on the 

march in BMDs and on foot at night without firing. 

 

 

In the middle of the day on 27 December the company commander received the combat mission from the 

Chief of Intelligence of the Airborne Forces Col. A. Kukushkin, informed the platoon commanders, and then in turn 

specified a particular task for each paratrooper. The BMD drivers and the gun operators were especially instructed. A. 

M. Watanjar operated together with the Soviet soldiers. 

 

 

The order to begin operations came at 1830. They were ordered to begin attacking the target at 1930, seize it, 

and organize a defense. Maj. Ryabinin was in the company commander’s BMD. A group of “Zenit” reconnaissance 

saboteurs were located in an APC together with A. M. Watanjar. 

 

 

The combat vehicles began to advance at the established time but were unexpectedly cut off by a column of 

an advancing paratroop battalion. The APC with the “Zenit” troops and Watanjar stopped. Aleksandr Popov, recalling 

that time, said: “We did not know then that there were other Airborne Forces units in Kabul besides us and therefore 

were quite surprised and could not understand where these paratroopers here had come from.” And all the same the 

reconnaissance company advanced to the target on time and the paratroopers rushed onto its grounds from both 

directions, crushing the gates and shooting down the sentries. The reconnaissance personnel acted daringly and 

rapidly. They immediately opened massed intensive fire. They destroyed three tanks and one BMP using the “Mukha” 

hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher. They seized one tank around the checkpoint and took the crew prisoner.  The 

remaining tanks and BMPs (there were 11 tanks and four BMPs at the facility) did not offer resistance. Not one tank 

fired its gun although all the guns were loaded and the crews were in full combat readiness. They had been alerted 

back at 1700 but were not told against whom they were to fight.  Having fired their machine guns the combat vehicles 

withdrew from the facility and stopped, expecting something. 

 

 

Meanwhile the “Zenit” group rushed into the radiotelevision building, seizing it by storm. 

 

 

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The battle lasted about 40 minutes. After the building was seized the Afghan radio and television personnel 

were searched and gathered in a separate room and a guard posted. 

 

 

The group was given a great deal of help by Watanjar, who sent the captured tank crews to tanks in the 

distance with an order to surrender. He explained the situation to them and assured them that soldiers who switched to 

the side of the new government were to be guaranteed safety. All the crews of the remaining seven tanks and three 

BMPs surrendered. Afterwards the soldiers from the facility’s security force laid down their weapons.  There were 106 

taken prisoner, seven killed, and 29 wounded. On our side one soldier was wounded in the leg. He was later sent to a 

hospital. 

 

 

Then Watanjar spoke to the officials of the radiotelevision center and organized work with Afghan specialists 

to transmit an appeal to the people by Karmal and a number of announcements of the new government. The 

paratroopers monitored these transmissions and guarded the buildings. Subsequently the radiotelevision center was 

handed over to representatives of the new government of Afghanistan and its security was entrusted to one of the 

companies of the 103

rd

 Airborne Division. On 29 December the reconnaissance company of the 345

th

 Independent 

Parachute Regiment left for Bagram. Thirteen servicemen of the company received government awards for courage 

and heroism displayed in carrying out this operation (Popov and Loktev were awarded the Order of the Red Banner). 

 

 

At 2020 a paratrooper platoon and nine “Zenit” troops led by Aleksandr Puntus drove up to the telegraph 

building, but the entrance to it was closed. Puntus and an interpreter got out of the vehicle and started to explain to an 

Afghan officer who approached them that the group had arrived to reinforce the telegraph office’s security force and 

asked to be let into the facility. However the officer replied that he had orders not to let anyone into the facility. In his 

words, about an hour before a strong explosion had occurred near the telegraph office, as a result of which a large 

crater had formed and the building had been damaged. No arguments worked on the Afghan officer, so they were not 

able to get inside the building peacefully. 

 

 

After reporting the situation an order was received to seize the telegraph office by force. The operation began 

at 2100 with an APC knocking down the gates and entering the courtyard, neutralizing the guard force located around 

the building and in the sentry room. Then the paratroopers and “Zenit” troops swiftly rushed into the building and 

quickly seized its three floors. The entire operation took 20 minutes and was carried out successfully although Afghan 

soldiera, and there were 32 of them at the facility, offered armed opposition at first. 

 

 

The Afghan soldiers were disarmed and placed under guard in the sentry room. Besides the guard there were 

support personnel inside the building (20 men and 12 women). They were all searched and placed in rooms on the 

third floor of the building. They did not offer resistance. The equipment was disconnected with the help of Afghan 

specialists. They were fed, calmed down, and put up for the night. The next morning all of them were released to go 

home. There were no casualties on either side. 

 

 

After the seizure of the telegraph office outer [security] posts were set up which monitored the entrances to 

the building. There were no attempts to seize the building. 

 

 

And already on 29 December, by agreement with Yusupov, the senior adviser to the Ministry of 

Communications, support and technical personnel of the telegraph office were admitted to the building; they cleaned 

up the rooms and adjusted the equipment. 

 

 

At 1930 two paratrooper platoons and 14 “Zenit” troops headed by Yuriy Mel’nik began to seize the Ministry 

of Internal Affairs (Tsarandoy) building. They acted suddenly and swiftly. They approached the target in three open 

trucks and stopping sharply at a checkpoint let loose a salvo from seven “Mukha” hand-held grenade launchers. This 

caused brief confusion among the guard force numbering about 350 soldiers and officers, which helped the 

paratroopers to quickly make it from the checkpoint to the MVD building, from which the attackers were fired upon. 

The group drove the guard force from the first floor in several minutes with a decisive assault and seized it. Then the 

paratroopers hurried up the stairs, firing without interruption and throwing grenades. It took literally 15 minutes to 

occupy the remaining floors. The Afghans were demoralized, not understanding what was happening. After this 

resistance ceased immediately. 

 

 

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