Viktor Fyodorovich Karpukhin

Viktor Fyodorovich Karpukhin (Russian: Виктор Фёдорович Карпухин; October 27, 1947 – March 24, 2003) was a member of the KGB who was instrumental in the Soviet–Afghan War.[1]

Viktor Fyodorovich Karpukhin
Born	27 October 1947 Lutsk, Soviet Union
Died	24 March 2003(2003-03-24) (aged 55) Orsha, Belarus
Allegiance	Soviet Union
Service/branch	KGB
Years of service	1969–1992
Rank	Major general
Commands held	Alpha Group
Battles/wars	Soviet–Afghan War Operation Storm-333
Awards	Hero of the Soviet Union

He was born in the Ukrainian city of Lutsk. He joined the KGB's crack Alpha Group (AG) in 1967 and worked his way up to become its commander in 1988.

On December 23, 1979, Karpukhin led 38 soldiers of the AG into Afghanistan, who along with 500 Soviet paratroopers, landed at Bagram Airfield, next to the capital Kabul. Two days later, 40,000 Soviet Army soldiers poured over the Afghan border.

Stationed in the Soviet embassy in Kabul, which was close to the Tajbeg Palace of President Hafizullah Amin, Karpukhin's forces awaited further instructions. On December 27, Karpukhin was ordered to take the presidential palace. In the attack, two Soviet soldiers were killed, and Amin was shot to death. The following day, Prime Minister Babrak Karmal took Amin's seat as president. Karpukhin was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union medal for his role.

Karpukhin retired from the Alpha Group in 1991, and worked in various government and commercial ventures.