# Withdrawal from Afghanistan (1989)

URL: https://history-russia.com/timeline/1989-withdrawal-from-afghanistan
Categories: main-event

The last Soviet troops crossed the Friendship Bridge out of Afghanistan on 15 February 1989, ending the nine-year war. The Afghan government survived until 1992. The withdrawal ended an unpopular war.

## Why it matters
The withdrawal ended an unpopular war.

Ruler at the time: [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://history-russia.com/rulers/mikhail-gorbachev)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_withdrawal_from_Afghanistan)
- [Wikipedia — Perestroika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perestroika)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Withdrawal from Afghanistan](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Withdrawal+from+Afghanistan)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of Russian history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Russian_history)