The Soviets completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan on 15 February 1989, ending the nearly decade‑long Soviet–Afghan War that had begun with their 1979 intervention.

Key dates at a glance

  • Start of withdrawal: 15 May 1988, under the timetable set by the 1988 Geneva Accords.
  • Completion of withdrawal: 15 February 1989, when the last units of the Soviet 40th Army crossed back into Soviet territory under General Boris Gromov.

Brief context

The withdrawal followed years of costly fighting against Afghan mujahideen forces and growing political pressure inside the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms. It did not bring immediate peace: instead, Afghanistan soon slid further into civil war among rival factions.

TL;DR: The Soviets left Afghanistan in stages from May 1988 and were fully out by 15 February 1989.

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