- Viktor Karpukhin
Viktor Karpukhin (1947–
March 24 ,2003 ) was a member of theKGB who was instrumental in theSoviet Union 's invasion and occupation ofAfghanistan .He was born in the Ukrainian city of
Lutsk . He joined the KGB's crack Alpha unit in 1979 and worked his way up to commander.On
December 23 ,1979 , Karpukhin led 38 soldiers of the "Alfa" anti-terrorist group, who along with 500 Soviet paratroopers, landed atBagram airport, next toKabul , Afghanistan. Two days later, 40,000Red Army soldiers poured over the Afghan border.Stationed in the Soviet embassy in Kabul, which was in close range of president
Hafizullah Amin 's palace, Karpukhin's forces awaited further instructions. OnDecember 27 , Karpukhin was ordered to take the presidential palace. In the ambush, two Soviet soldiers were killed, and Amin was shot to death. The following day, prime ministerBabrak Karmal , took Amin's seat as president. Karmal was handpicked byMoscow . Karpukhin was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union medal for his role.Karpukhin retired from the Alpha unit in 1991, and worked in various government and commercial ventures.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.