The Afghani

Any war is always horrible. The Afghan war is horrible and tragic doubly. Because in it, yesterday’s schoolboys were forced to defend not their own country, family, and loved ones from the enemy who attacked them—but to carry out an “international duty” on foreign territory, in a foreign country. They went to Afghanistan as liberating soldiers—yet they were met as occupiers.

More than half a million Soviet soldiers went through the Afghan war. And those who were fortunate enough to survive that hell and return home expected that in the new peaceful life they would be greeted with honors and respect. But instead, they found themselves in the era of Perestroika, in which no one expected them. It became a terrible tragedy not only for yesterday’s soldiers, but also for their families.

The audio book “The Afghan” by Vasyl Bykov tells the story of one such Afghan veteran who returned from the war.

Also, don’t miss the previously released audio book “The Alpine Ballad” by Vasyl Bykov, performed by Andrey Martynov.