Image source: Photo: "Bulletin of Mordovia"
After the withdrawal from Afghanistan of a part of the two hundred and first motorized rifle Gatchina double Red Banner Division stationed in Tajikistan, T-72s of various types began to be received instead of the T-62M. There were among them cars of the very first modifications, even with monolithic armor towers and optical rangefinders.
There were also more modern T-72A and upgraded T-72AV with anti-cumulative dynamic protection. Motorized infantry operated BMP-2, among which there were, among others, "Afghan" versions with additional armor, as well as the irreplaceable wheeled armored personnel carriers BTR-80.
It was with such equipment that the 201st met the tragic events of the collapse of the Soviet Union, which resulted in a bloody civil war on the territory of the former Soviet Republic. The consequences of this conflict would be even more severe if it were not for the role of this compound. The fighters guarded strategically important objects, delivered food, medicines, evacuated refugees, helped border guards to prevent breakthroughs of gangs.
Of course, all this happened under the shelling of the rebels, very often there were various provocations. Attempts were repeatedly made to seize weapons and military equipment of the formations.
In Tajikistan, they told about one episode. A T-72 was stolen from the territory of our military unit, which was supposed to be used in disassembly. To prevent this from happening, the command set the task of neutralizing this tank. Since the people who took possession of it refused to return the equipment, they decided to organize an ambush with the participation of another "seventy-second".
This happened in the area of one of the bridges over the Vakhsh River. Approaching him, the militants still noticed the Russian car and immediately opened fire. The return shot sounded almost simultaneously. Both shells hit targets. The captured tank immediately exploded, its crew instantly died. Another T-72 also caught fire, but the fighters managed to evacuate before the detonation of the onboard ammunition.
This duel was the only such case in Tajikistan, although armored vehicles were actively used until the very end of the conflict.
Lev Romanov
