Operation Storm-333
Encyclopedia
Operation Storm-333 was the codename of the Soviet
special forces operation on December 27, 1979 in which Soviet special forces stormed the Tajbeg Palace
in Afghanistan
and killed President Hafizullah Amin
and his 200 personal guards. His eleven year old son died due to shrapnel wounds.
Several other government buildings were seized during the operation, including the Ministry of Interior building, the Internal Security (KHAD
) building, and the General Staff building (Darul Aman Palace
). Alpha Group
's veteran
s call this operation one of the most successful in the group's history.
group: «Зенит» ("Zenith"). There were also 520 men from the 154th Separate Spetsnaz
Detachment of the USSR Ministry of Defence, known as the "Muslim
battalion
" because it consisted exclusively of soldiers from the southern republics of the USSR, and 87 troops of a company
of 345 Guards Airborne Regiment These support troops were not issued armor or helmets, but one of them recalls that a magazine tucked inside his clothes protected him from an SMG bullet. The GRU and KGB units were clad in bullet-proof vests and helmets; this proved crucial, because Amin's personal guards were armed only with submachine guns, which were not able to penetrate the Soviet vests.
In the operation Alpha Group lost 2 men, Zenith group lost 3, the Muslim battalion 9, and the Air Landing company 5. More than 50 were wounded in total.
, "over a hundred of the KGB troops were killed before the palace was taken and Amin gunned down". Although co-writer Christopher Andrew does concede that the higher figure may have consisted of all "casualties" and not just deaths.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
special forces operation on December 27, 1979 in which Soviet special forces stormed the Tajbeg Palace
Tajbeg Palace
Tajbeg Palace or Tapa-e-Tajbeg Palace is a Palace built in the 1920s and located about ten miles outside of the center of Kabul, Afghanistan. The stately mansion sits atop a knoll among foothills where the Afghan royal family once hunted and picnicked...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and killed President Hafizullah Amin
Hafizullah Amin
Hafizullah Amin was the second President of Afghanistan during the period of the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan....
and his 200 personal guards. His eleven year old son died due to shrapnel wounds.
Several other government buildings were seized during the operation, including the Ministry of Interior building, the Internal Security (KHAD
KHAD
Khadamat-e Etela'at-e Dawlati translates directly to English as: "Government Information Agency". However, this phrase is more correctly translated as Government Intelligence Service...
) building, and the General Staff building (Darul Aman Palace
Darul Aman Palace
Darul Aman Palace is a European-style palace, now ruined, located about sixteen kilometers outside of the center of Kabul, Afghanistan....
). Alpha Group
Alpha Group
The Alpha Group , is an elite component of Russia's Spetsnaz as well as the dedicated counter-terrorism unit of the Federal Security Service...
's veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s call this operation one of the most successful in the group's history.
Soviet forces and losses
Taking part in the operation were 24 men from «Гром» ("Thunder") unit of Alpha Group , GRU, and 30 operators from another special KGBKGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
group: «Зенит» ("Zenith"). There were also 520 men from the 154th Separate Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz, Specnaz tr: Voyska specialnogo naznacheniya; ) is an umbrella term for any special forces in Russian, literally "force of special purpose"...
Detachment of the USSR Ministry of Defence, known as the "Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
" because it consisted exclusively of soldiers from the southern republics of the USSR, and 87 troops of a company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
of 345 Guards Airborne Regiment These support troops were not issued armor or helmets, but one of them recalls that a magazine tucked inside his clothes protected him from an SMG bullet. The GRU and KGB units were clad in bullet-proof vests and helmets; this proved crucial, because Amin's personal guards were armed only with submachine guns, which were not able to penetrate the Soviet vests.
In the operation Alpha Group lost 2 men, Zenith group lost 3, the Muslim battalion 9, and the Air Landing company 5. More than 50 were wounded in total.
Controversy about Soviet losses
According to Mitrokhin ArchiveMitrokhin Archive
The Mitrokhin Archive is a collection of notes made secretly by KGB Major Vasili Mitrokhin during his thirty years as a KGB archivist in the foreign intelligence service and the First Chief Directorate...
, "over a hundred of the KGB troops were killed before the palace was taken and Amin gunned down". Although co-writer Christopher Andrew does concede that the higher figure may have consisted of all "casualties" and not just deaths.