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Lithuanian Men in the Forced Soviet Army

The History of Compulsory Military Service

International Aid

The Kremlin recruited 5,000 men from Lithuania for the war in Afghanistan (1980–1989), of which 96 returned in zinc coffins, 98 came back disabled, and others suffered a long-term psychological trauma. The disaster of Chernobyl is another page in the tragedy of Lithuanian recruits. While trying to liquidate the consequences of the nuclear accident, 66 soldiers from Lithuania were killed, and 626 were injured or became disabled.

A Soviet infantry detachment in Afghanistan War.
Afghanistan (Bagrami), 1981. Photo author unknown
Personal archive of Vytas Lukšys
Lithuanian Andrius Eiva (second from the right), US military adviser, with Soviet prisoners of war.
Afghanistan, 1981. Photo author unknown
Personal archive of Vytas Lukšys
Svajūnas Visockas, a Soviet soldier in Afghanistan War.
Afghanistan (Jalalabad), 1983. Photo author unknown
Personal archive of Vytas Lukšys
Paspauskite nuotrauką / Click on the Photo
Paspauskite nuotrauką / Click on the Photo
Juozas Cicėnas, a Soviet soldier in Afghanistan War. The inscription on the back, dedicated to his parents.
Afghanistan (Kandahar), 1985. Photo author unknown
Personal archive of Vytas Lukšys
The river Kabul.
Afghanistan, 1988. Photo author unknown
Personal archive of Vytas Lukšys
The Soviet soldiers who died in Afghanistan War.
Afghanistan (Kabul), 1988. Photo author unknown
Personal archive of Vytas Lukšys
The Soviet Army during an operation in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan, 1982. Photo author unknown
Personal archive of Vytas Lukšys
Artūras Grabauskas, a Soviet soldier in Afghanistan War.
Afghanistan, 1980s. Photo author unknown
Personal archive of Vytas Lukšys
Soviet soldier Vytautas Liaudanskas (in the middle) in Afghanistan War with his brother in arms and some local Afghans.
Afghanistan, 1988. Photo author unknown
Personal archive of Vytas Lukšys
Stasys Naruševičius (left), a Soviet soldier in Afghanistan War.
Afghanistan (near Pakistan border), 1988. Photo author unknown
Personal archive of Vytas Lukšys