Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War - Bennett Park Raiders

Chapter 6, Vignette 5 Page 173
Some 80% of the villages in the area were damaged. Soviet/DRA
losses are unknown. The Mujahideen shot down one helicopter and
three jets. As the Soviets withdrew, we captured two intact Soviet
tanks and four trucks. Some 600 DRA soldiers defected or were
captured. Most of them defected with their weapons.
COMMENTARY: Gulzarak Zadran's evaluation of the Soviets is not
flattering. "I should mention here that the Russian Army is a worthless
military institution and that no professional soldier will
give them a high mark in discipline or the will to fight. They are
useless. I should also note that the Russians relied throughout the
action on maximum use of artillery and one Mujahideen would draw
the fire of a battery or more for several minutes. The high peaks
which they occupied by heliborne troops helped them a lot. Even
there, they surrounded themselves with all sorts of mines. And these
'bears' would be sitting around lighted campfires to keep themselves
warm in the winter, so the peaks were on fire all night. The Soviet
Air Force was not very effective because they flew very high, probably
out of fear of our Stingers."
Despite General Zadran's comments, the Soviet planning and
execution of this operation was well done. It matches the initial
Soviet invasion in tactical surprise, the use of multiple axis, operational
tempo and innovation. The fire support and logistics portion of
the plan were first rate and the use of dummy paratroopers was a
masterstroke. The use of air-assault forces was well-planned and
executed. The Soviets needed a "save-face" operation before withdrawal
and Magistral was that.