By James Rodgers
BBC News, Moscow
Between 1979 and 1989 thousands of Soviet soldiers died in Afghanistan
fighting the US-backed mujahideen. But 110 British soldiers have been
killed in the country since 2001 as fighting rages with the Taleban.
So what do Russian veterans think of Afghanistan and the current Nato
campaign?
"It's not the truth," said a voice over my shoulder. I turned round. A
man had seen me taking notes as I looked at an exhibition of a
pristine Soviet field hospital.
It was 1991. In its last days, the USSR was trying to come to terms
with its military campaign in Afghanistan.
The Manezh exhibition hall, almost in the shadow of the Kremlin, was
open for anyone who wanted to have a look.
The man explained that he had fought in Afghanistan, and the reality
had been very different to the display.
Today, Russian veterans of the Afghan war still have little good to
say of their experience.
They look at the presence of British and other Nato troops there with
an air of grim recognition.
"When the troops went into Afghanistan, a lot of our veterans said:
'It's a shame they've gone in. People are going to get killed. People
understand they haven't just gone for a stroll,'" says Franz
Klintsevich, who heads the Russian Union of Afghan Veterans.
He was 28 when he went to fight in Afghanistan - still "a little boy",
as he describes it now.
It'll finish exactly the same way it did with us
Franz Klintsevich
He sees the current conflict as one of young men pitted against
veterans whose skills were forged fighting the Soviets.
"Today the British troops, these young lads, are fighting 40-year-old
blokes who were 14 or 17 in our time," he says.
"Experienced, knowing, fighters."
Alexander Golts, a military analyst with the ej.ru website, covered
the conflict as a war correspondent.
He saw a Soviet generation who were deeply affected - and left with a
bleak view of the situation they see in Afghanistan now.
"You should understand it's approximately one million people who went
through Afghanistan during the years of occupation. And everybody
among them understood that it was a deadlock."
There's no sense things are different now.
"It'll finish exactly the same way it did with us," Franz Klintsevich
says.
Sense of solidarity
If there is a feeling here that unpleasant episodes of history are
repeating themselves, then it brings no pleasure.
Instead, there seems to be a sense of solidarity, and understanding.
Mr Klinsevich believes that British troops are doing the world a
service by being there.
There is a strong feeling that Nato has another plan - not only
dealing with the situation in Afghanistan
Alexander Golts
"There'll be people too who'll accuse them of losing, who'll say this
was all in vain, all the crippled and dead lives were in vain," he
says.
"No, it's not in vain. These British and American soldiers will always
get moral sup****t from us. They aren't there in vain."
There are other factors shaping Russia's opinion.
Many in Russia loathe and mistrust Nato, but Moscow recognises that it
benefits from the alliance's presence in Afghanistan.
The country borders the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) - a
group which includes most of the former Soviet republics. Moscow has a
stake in seeing an Afghanistan which is as stable as possible.
Little optimism
Alexander Golts explains Russia's view.
"There is a very mixed feeling. First, the Russian authorities show
that they are not very happy that Nato is deploying on our southern
borders, or the southern borders of CIS countries.
It's absolutely clear that Nato countries, and Great Britain among
them, they are doing our job
Alexander Golts
"There is a strong feeling that Nato has another plan - not only
dealing with the situation in Afghanistan," he says, reflecting
suspicion of Nato's motives.
"On another hand, it's absolutely clear that Nato countries, and Great
Britain among them, they are doing our job," he adds.
"Now western countries are doing our job and sup****t tremendously
Russian security."
Still, it is hard to find optimists here.
"No-one knows the way out," Mr Golts concludes.
I wonder if the man I spoke to at the exhibition all those years ago
might accept that as the truth.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/7494357.stm
Published: 2008/07/08 05:43:12 GMT
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