Although today the veteran enjoys a well-deserved rest, the memories of the events of 1986–1988 are still vividly etched in his mind. A correspondent from Turmush conducted an interview with him to learn more about his experience.
Zamir was born in 1968 and after finishing school in Taldy-Suu, he trained as a driver. This skill became crucial when he was drafted into the army in April 1986. The journey to the front began with training in Grozny, where the recruits underwent preparation for three months. In August of that year, they arrived in Kabul by plane.
“When we first started our service, the fear of war was strong, but over time it became less palpable,” Akmatov shares his memories.
As an experienced driver, he was assigned to an armored vehicle that escorted convoys carrying ammunition and food supplies. This job was risky, as the enemy often attacked the "head" and "tail" of the convoy.
In addition to enemy shelling, soldiers had to contend with harsh natural conditions. In the summer, temperatures rose to +50°C. Drinking raw water was strictly prohibited: it was boiled, chlorinated, and then cooled. But even these measures did not help: 80% of the soldiers contracted jaundice, and Zamir himself suffered from malaria four times.
One of the most difficult memories that the veteran holds onto is related to his return home. The joy of the upcoming reunion with loved ones was overshadowed by constant danger. “We witnessed the takeoff of a plane with 108 comrades, which exploded in the air... No one survived,” he recounts.
Zamir and his comrades left Kabul on May 29, 1988. When the flight attendants announced that they were crossing the USSR border over Tashkent, the soldiers began tossing their caps into the air, marking their victory over death.
After returning home, he worked at a fish factory and then spent a long time working in the Tyup forestry. In 1994, Zamir started a family: together with his wife, they are raising a son and four daughters.
