Operation Highway

At first, they had to master the Sate-Kandav pass (located at an altitude of three thousand meters). The opposition group in the area consisted mainly of a paramilitary Jadran tribe . This tribe did not submit to any government at all and acted as its leaders considered necessary. In the 80s, the leadership of the mujahideen formations was carried out by Jalaluddin, a native of this tribe.

The plan of the operation was provided for by counter-strikes of the main forces of the army from Gardez and parts of the forces of the 108th motorized rifle division from Khost after massed air and artillery strikes to break the blockade of Khost district and defeat the main enemy group. By the forces of the 108th motorized rifle division, the 201st motorized rifle division and the 191st motorized rifle division , to capture the pre-pass section, and by the forces of the 103rd airborne forces - the Sate-Kandav pass, and subsequently increase efforts by introducing the 56th oddsbr , 149 guards. SMEs , 345th CPF , formations of government forces and capture the dominant heights along main communication. And:

1. block the route throughout
2. destroy the main enemy groupings in the Khost region;
3. to expand the safe zone and thereby ensure the wiring of columns with material means to the Host;
4. restoration of control over the Gardez-Host highway;
5. capture of the pass and the dominant heights, as well as mine clearance ;
6. stabilization of the situation in the region.

Rebel actions in posting columns

1. mining of roads and adjacent dominant heights;
2. The creation of blockages and destruction in certain sections of the road;
3. intensive shelling of columns from pre-prepared positions;
4. active struggle against air targets with the use of various means of air defense, including MANPADS " Stinger ";
5. build up resistance to the troops as they approach the base in the Srana area.

Operation Plan

Fight in 5 stages
1. Extension and capture of the Satukandav pass;
2. Negotiating with the Jadran tribe;
3. Capture and setting guard posts along the road from Satukandav Pass to Khost;
4. Posting columns with material means for the aircraft;
5. Exit the battle and return to the RPD.

Immediate and future tasks

1. 20.11.1987 units 103 Guards. airborne and 345 guards. ODPP to march to the combat area and to the outcome of 21.11. concentrate in the Gardez area, be prepared for landing;
2.20.11. units of the 108th Infantry Detachment to march to the war zone. Be prepared for landing - by the end of 20. 11 concentrate in the Gardez area;
3. From the morning of 22-23 November. after the fire preparation, in collaboration with the units of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, to capture the Satukandav pass and block the road on the “Gelgay-Shvak” section, with the task of preventing the Mujahideen from entering the communications and ensuring unhindered movement of columns in the guarded area. KP have in the area: marks. 2815;
4. In the morning of November 22. after firing, go on to defense in the strip: lawsuit. Gelgay, having a cutting edge along the border of K. DARA, K. Gelgay, with the task of preventing the Mujahideen from accessing communication and ensuring unhindered movement of columns in the guarded area. On the right goes to the defense of 103 guards. airborne forces; KP divisions have in the area (1128);
5.18.11. 191 Omsp units to march to the combat area and by the end of 18.11. concentrate in the Gardez area;
6. In the morning of November 22. after conducting fire training, proceed to defense on their own site, with the task of providing the units with 103 guards. airborne forces and units of the Armed Forces of the DRA to capture the Satukandav Pass. On the right goes to the defense of 103 guards. wdd .; KP regiment have in the area mark. 2669;
7. during 23–26.11. to conduct negotiations with the JAD RAS tribe in order to sign an agreement on the convoy with material means along the Gardez, Host route for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan;
8. in the morning of November 27. in case of refusal to sign the agreement, the DRA armed forces block the section of the road from the Satukandav to Nasriak-3marat pass - by forces of 25 front and 37 dshbr brigades of the DRA;
9. in the morning of November 22. air strikes on the transit sections of caravan routes to isolate the combat zone from the penetration of bandit formations. Using the results of artillery fire, air strikes and the simultaneous extension of 108 msd, 191 omes in cooperation with the DRA armed forces, occupying the dominant heights, block the road in the area of ​​villages: Dara, Zavu, Gelgai , lawsuit. Satukandav pass, 103 guards. airborne forces;
10. in the morning of 23.11. in cooperation with 76 pp of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces, to capture and hold the Satukandav Pass;
11.25.11. units of the 56th Guards Detachment Brigade with reinforcements move to the defense of the site: Ubamtai, Navaykov kishlak with the task of preventing Mujahideen from communicating and ensuring unhindered movement of columns in the guarded area; KP have in the area of ​​the village of Shabakheil;
10.29.11. units 345 guards. OPDP to be ready to seize dominant heights and ensure unhindered movement of columns with material means;
11. units of 149 guards.msp - reserve leader of the hostilities. By the end of 20.11. to concentrate in the city of Kabul and ensures the convoy of convoys along the Kabul-Gardez route;
12. units 66 omsbr - reserve leader of the hostilities. 21. 11 to concentrate in the RPD 56 guards. Oshbr and be prepared for the performance of assigned combat missions;
13. From 4 to 17.12. post the convoy along the Gardez-Host route for the DRA armed forces with materiel;
14. From 17 to 20.12. to carry out the removal of units from the block along the Gardez-Khost road and to carry out the advancement of units and formations to locations;
15. At the same time, during the convoying period, set 67 points at the Satukandav pass in order to ensure unhindered convoying of the convoy along the Gardez-Khost route for the DRA ^[1] .

Artillery Tasks

1. to ensure the exit of formations and units to the war zone;
2. to prohibit the rebels' attempts to leave the encircled areas, as well as the approach of their reserves;
3. perform tasks on a call;
4. perform tasks on remote mining of the terrain ^[1] .

Aviation Tasks

1. During the creation of the grouping, the promotion of formations and units to carry out a combat mission, cover them from enemy influence;
2. To provide support to troops during the hostilities, transportation of personnel and MTS, evacuation of the wounded;
3. The Army Air Force, in the course of independent combat operations from November 9 to 22, by bombing and assault strikes, defeat the exposed rebel groups;
4. When creating a grouping, advancing to a war zone, on blocs — protect troops from rebel strikes;
5. Provide relay of commands and signals;
6. Be prepared for an additional command to drop units of 345th Guards.opdp and 103th Guards.
7. To fulfill combat missions, allocate a resource - 720 front-line sorties, including 160 - in reserve, 840 sorties of army aviation and special-mission sorties - 120 ^[1] .

Tasks of Air Defense Units

1. The main efforts of air defense systems to focus on the cover of the CP RSA, divisions, regiments from the east and south-east;
2. organize notification of an air enemy through the army’s CP air defense ^[1] .

Tasks of Engineering Units

1. to carry out engineering reconnaissance of the routes for the advance of troops to the areas of military operations, areas of deployment of artillery, artillery firing positions and helipads;
2. equip water points;
3. to carry out special mining of probable routes for the movement of caravans, the rebels' access to communications ^[1] .

Tasks of Chemical Protection Units

1. to conduct continuous chemical and bacteriological reconnaissance of combat zones;
2. destroy the enemy’s fighting force and material assets, as well as its firing points;
3. use smoke aids to mask maneuver on the battlefield and blind enemy firing points ^[1] .

Logistics support

To organize uninterrupted logistical support of troops during the fighting, create a base area of ​​56 oddsbr (Gardez). By November 20, 1987, stockpiles of material resources in the base area should be created in the required amounts. Medical support should be organized by regular forces and means of medical services of divisions and regiments. The evacuation of the wounded and sick from the areas of military operations is carried out by helicopters to the OMEDR 56 guards. odshbr with the subsequent evacuation to "TsVG" and "TIG" Kabul ^[1] .

Short Description of Operation

Since negotiations with Jalaluddin were unsuccessful, Operation Trunk was launched on November 23. By the end of November 28, the advanced units, consisting of 1pdb 357 pdp and 2 pdb 350 pdp 103 of the airborne division, took possession of the Sate-Kandav pass . Then negotiations began again with the leaders of the warring Jadran tribe. But on December 16, troops were forced to continue fighting. On December 30, the first food trucks moved along the highway to the Host.

The forces of the 108th and 201st motorized infantry divisions , the 103rd airborne division, the 56th separate airborne assault brigade, and the 45th engineer and engineer, 191st participated in this operation from the 40th Army motorized rifle and 345th paratrooper regiments, as well as other units. From the side of the Afghan army, the forces and assets of five infantry divisions, one tank brigade and several special forces units were attracted. In addition, more than ten Tsaranda battalions (MVD) and the DRA state security participated in the operation.

• November 23 is the start date of the operation.
• November 28 - advanced units of the Soviet troops captured the Sate-Kandav Pass.
• December 30 - the first columns went along the highway to the Host.

Decisive action of the 103rd Guards. VDD - commander P. S. Grachev, 345th OPDP - commander V. A. Vostrotin, 15th Separate brigade SPN - commander Yu. T. Starov made a decisive contribution to the success of the military operation "Highway"

The scope of the operation was 150 km, the pace of advance was 5-6 km / day, the duration was 2.5 months, and the composition was 51 battalions.

To participate in the large-scale combined-arms operation "Highway" were involved:

• from the 103rd Guards Airborne Forces - the 350th Guards Regiment, the 1st SDB from the 357th Guards Regiment, the reconnaissance company of the 357th Guards Regiment, the reconnaissance company of the 317th Guards Regiment, Separate 80- I am a reconnaissance company of the 103rd Guards Airborne Forces;
• from the 108th ISM - the 781st ORB (2nd and 3rd companies), reconnaissance and 2 SMEs from the 180th and 181st SMEs; 2nd Gbatr (D-30) from 181msp, 6th minbatr (2C4) and 1st sadn (2C3), 10th and 11th reabatr (BM-21) from 1074th AP;
• from the 201st MSD (783rd ORB - 2nd reconnaissance), the 149th guards MSP (reconnaissance, two - 1.2msb), the 395th SME (reconnaissance, two - 1.2msb);
• from the 66th Motorized Rifle Brigade - DShB, reconnaissance, 3rd MSB;
• from the 56th guards of the OSShBr - 2 battalions (1 and 3 pdb, reconnaissance);
• from the 345th guards detachment - 2nd infantry regiment, reconnaissance;
• from the 191st OMSP - the 2nd MSB, the 3rd MSB (mountain), reconnaissance;
• from the 15th Separate Brigade of the Special Operations Directorate of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR - 2 Separate Detachments - (334th and 668th) OoSpN.

In total, forces and assets were attracted from the 40th Army :

• Personnel - 5634 military personnel;
• Tanks - 28 units;
• BMP-2 - 190 units;
• BTR-70 (80) - 102 units;
• MLRS "Grad" (BM-21) - 21 units.;
• Self-propelled artillery: 2C5 “Hyacinth” - 10 units, 2C3 “Acacia” - 8 units, 2C1 “Carnation” (122 mm) - 34 units, 2C9 “Nona-S” - 14 units, 2C4 “Tulip” - 2 units, mortars 2B14 - 24 units, 2B9 - 15 units;
• Trucks - 298 units, special vehicles - 195 units.

From the Armed Forces of Afghanistan:

• Units and units of the 1st and 3rd AK (Army Corps), 15th infantry brigade (Tank brigade), 37th oddsbr (Separate air assault brigade), 66th odshp (Separate airborne assault regiment), 230 -th odshb (Separate air assault brigade);
• Separate battalions of the MGB (Ministry of State Security) - two and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Internal Affairs) - two.

“The main result of the operation,” says Colonel General B. V. Gromov ^[2] , “was the breakthrough of the many-month military and economic blockade of the Host. At the same time, the plans of the leaders of the " Alliance of Seven " to tear Khost out of Afghanistan and create an autonomous Islamic state on its territory were disrupted "and a large base of Mujahideen was defeated.

The exact number of losses by each side has not been established.

Герои Советского Союза за участие в операции «Магистраль»

«За мужество и героизм, проявленные при исполнении воинского долга, умелое командование войсками при оказании интернациональной помощи республике Афганистан », Указами Президиума Верховного Совета СССР , высшего звания Герой Советского Союза , c вручением ордена Ленина и медали «Золотая звезда» , удостоены воины-интернационалисты :

  Александров, Вячеслав Александрович Указ Президиума ВС СССР от 28.06.1988 г. (посмертно).

  Варенников, Валентин Иванович Указ Президиума ВС СССР от 03.03.1988

  Востротин, Валерий Александрович Указ Президиума ВС СССР от 06.01.1988

  Грачев, Павел Сергеевич Указ Президиума ВС СССР от 05.05.1988

  Громов, Борис Всеволодович Указ Президиума ВС СССР от 03.03.1988

  Мельников, Андрей Александрович Указ Президиума ВС СССР от 28.06.1988 (посмертно)

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• Укрепрайоны афганских моджахедов (1979—1989)
• Герои Советского Союза (Афганская война 1979-1989 гг.)

• Операция «Магистраль» Док.фильм М.Лещинского 1988 год
• «Борис Громов. Операция Магистраль» Док.фильм, «Военная Тайна» ТК «РЕН ТВ»
• Операция «Магистраль» Док.фильм, «Невидимый фронт»
• Операция «Магистраль» Док.фильм
• «Холодная война» — Афганистан
• Уроки войны в Афганистане 1979–1989 годов