Veterans of the 1979-1989 Soviet-Afghan war began remembrance events in Moscow on Sunday, to mark the 20th anniversary of the departure of the last Soviet troops from Afghanistan on February 15, 1989.
Veterans took part in a march in the centre of Moscow to commemorate the approximately 15,000 Soviet troops that died during the campaign in Afghanistan, dpa reported.
Flowers were left at the grave of the unknown soldier at the Kremlin. A memorial concert has been planned for Sunday afternoon, which top Russian leaders are expected to attend.
The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 in defence of the then-Communist government, being drawn into a protracted conflict against a US-sponsored insurgency.
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