Chapter 1: The Tig and the Altyn - History of Russian counter terror helmets

#altyn On Storm 333: According to Oleg Balashov, commanding officer from Alpha, the assault was led by two elite units of Alpha and Zenith(Vympel) (15–20 each). The Alpha unit targeted Amin, and the Zenith unit had the task of collecting factual evidence that Amin was collaborating with the United States. Both units were brought to Afghanistan secretly and blended with Muslim battalions to make an impression that the operation was carried out by locals, whereas in reality nearly all work was done by Alpha and Zenith. Before the operation, Balashov surveyed the area under the guise of a bodyguard of a Soviet diplomat. His unit knew that they were going to a death zone and felt uncomfortable about it – about 80% of them were wounded shortly after they left their vehicles, yet they continued the assault. As Balashov expected, Amin’s troops targeted the first and last vehicle in the convoy of six. He placed his team of five men in the front BMP and, when the BMP got immobilized by fire from Amin’