After ten years of Soviet war in Afganistan, withdrawal of Soviet forces was finished. Soviets lost 14,453 soldiers killed, 53,753 Wounded 265 Missing in this war. Afgan loses solders ~18,000(soviet side), 75,000-90,000 (mojahedin side). Civilians - 850,000–1,500,000 killed, 5 million refugees outside of Afghanistan, 2 million internally displaced persons. Around 3 million Afghans wounded (mostly civilians)
3640 men from Latvia were sent Afghanistan, 177 were wounded. 63 were lost in action and one is still missing. It was tragic time in Latvian history as nobody asked these man if they wanted to go to this hostile strange land, where they could lost their lives and never return home. Latvian veterans who were forced to take place in Soviet military invasions disguised as “international duties” should be recognized as the victims of Soviet regime and receive the same treatment as other victims of soviet government. Many of these man suffer from war injuries both physical and psychological. Lack of public support draws them to separation and alcoholism. Latvia must take responsibilities for their soldiers no matter in which side their fought for their battle was tragedy for whole Latvian nation.
