LOCATIONS OF SOVIET GROUND FORCES UNITS IN AFGHANISTAN AND TURKESTAN MILITARY DISTRICT, USSR, AS OF 26 FEBRUARY 1980

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00913A000100250001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 18, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Content Type: REPORT

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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/05/18: CIA-RDP80T00913A000100250001-1
LOCATIONS OF SOVIET GROUND FORCES UNITS IId AFGHANISTAN AND TURKESTAN
MILITARY DISTRICT, USSR, AS OF 26 FEBRUARY 1980 (TSR)
1. ~~ This is the first in a projected series of imagery-derived~?
reports on the locations of Soviet ground force units and Soviet communica-
tions facilities in Afghanistan and in the Turkestan Military District on
the USSR-Afghanistan border. These reports will be published as significant
changes occur in the area.
2. ~~ The Soviets have deployed three motorized rifle divisions (MRD),
one airborne division, and major elements of a fourth MRD in Afghanistan.
3. ~~ P[ajor units in the Kabul/Bagram area include the Front-level
command post; two BMD (airborne armored personnel carrier-APC)-equipped regi-
ments; one assault gun battalion; one MRD, consisting of three motorized rifle
regiments (MRR); and one antiaircraft regiment. One BMD-equipped airborne
regiment was also at Bagram Airfield
4. d In northeastern Afghanistan, two MRRs were headquartered at Pol-e
Khomri, an two P1RRs, one FROG-7 battalion, and one airborne airmobile battal-
ion were headquartered at Kunduz (Qonduz) Airfield Elements
of these four regiments have probably been deployed to the Feyzabad, Taloqan,
and Nahrin areas, where a tank-reinforced motorized rifle battalion has been
identified in each location.
5. ~~ In western and southern Afghanistan, one MRD was headquartered
at Shindand Airfield Units observed include one tank regi-
ment, one MRR, one artillery regiment, one FROG 3/5 battalion, one BM-21
equipped multiple - rocket launcher battalion, one chemical defense bat-
talion, and three batteries of a deployed SA-8 regiment. The remainder of the
Shindand division was deployed in the vicinity of f~erat and Qandahar. One I~RR
was at f~erat Airfield and one MRR, along with two batteries of
the deployed SA-8 regiment and one BMD-equi ed airborne battalion, was at
Kandahar (Qandahar) Airfield International
6. ~~ Non-divisional signal equipment (R-410/R-412M TWIN PLATE tropo-
scatter sets) was deployed with the Front-level command post in Kabul and at
Pol-e Khomri, Kunduz (Qonduz) Airfield Herat Airfield (BE
7. ~~ One MRD, elements of a second possible MRD, and tactical SAM
units were on the USSR-Afghanistan border in the Turkestan Military District.
These units were within two major complexes, in the Takhta Bazar/Kushka area
and in the Termez area. The majority of the MRD elements were in the Takhta
Bazar/I:ushka area.
Takhta Bazar/Kushka Area
8. ~~ One MRD and elements of another possible MRD were observed in
this area. the equipment was bivouacked in the Takhta Bazar
Bivouac Area The units observed in this area include a BMP-
equipped MRR, a probable truck-equipped MRR, one tank regiment, a FROG-7 bat-
talion, a multiple-rocket launcher battalion, an artillery regiment, and an
antiaircraft re invent. A BTR-60-equipped P4RR was in Takhta Bazar Army Barracks
West AL-1 A tactical POL storage area and an R-410 T[dIN PLATE
communications station were deployed adjacent to Kushka Army Barracks AL-1/Head-
quarters MRD Elements of an MRR were parked within the same
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Top Secret RUFF
9. ~ Units observed in the Termez area include an SA-3 battalion de-
ployed approximately 2 nautical miles (nm) east of the complex and an SA-4
brigade and R-410 TWIN PLATE communications station deployed 6 nm to the north-
east. An unidentified unit consisting of 40 tracked vehicles and 135 vehicles/
niaraG ~f Pnitinmerit was parked in Termez Army Barracks AL-1/~ieadquarters MRD
Two tactical POL storage areas were deployed in the Termez
area--one was to the northwest and adjacent to Termez Ammunition Depot DA 1
and the other area was northeast of Termez. A deployed PMP
ponton bridge spans the Amu Darya (river) at Termez and serves as one of the
crossing points for Soviet ground forces units entering/exiting Afghanistan.
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. ?They may be
directed to the following persons in the Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC.
Top Secret
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Top Secret RUFF
FERGANA
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SAMARKAND
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ASHKHABAD
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MARY
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TANK RGT
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TERMEZ PONTON
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FROG 7
ABN~AIR ~~406 BN
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A F G H A N I S rI' A N F~opT
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COMMUNICATIUN SITE
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