The Second World War did not become the final point in the development of armed confrontation. According to statistics, the troops of the USSR became a direct participant in about 30 local wars both on the territory of the state and beyond its territorial boundaries. Moreover, the form of participation was both indirect and direct.
What are local wars
Foreign and domestic policy of the state can be carried out by various methods. Someone resorts to a peaceful settlement of disputed issues, someone - to an armed confrontation. Speaking about the military conflict, it should be noted that this is a policy that is carried out with the help of modern weapons. An armed conflict includes all confrontations: large-scale clashes, interstate, regional, local wars, etc. Let's consider the latter in more detail.
Local wars take place between a limited circle of participants. In the standard classification, this type of confrontation implies the participation of two states that pursue certain political or economic goals in this confrontation. At the same time, the military conflict unfolds on the territory of only the indicatedsubjects, affecting and violating their interests. Thus, local wars and armed conflicts are a private and general single concept.
| Name of armed conflict | Date |
| Chinese Civil War | 1946-1950 |
| Korean War | 1950-1953 |
| Hungarian Crisis | 1956 |
| War in Laos | 1960-1970 |
| Mine clearance of state territories of Algeria | 1962-1964 |
| Caribbean Crisis | 1962-1963 |
| Civil war in Yemen | 1962-1969 |
| Vietnam War | 1965-1974 |
| Middle East conflicts | 1967-1973 |
| Czechoslovak Crisis | 1968 |
| Mozambican Civil War | 1967, 1969, 1975-79 |
| War in Afghanistan | 1979-1989 |
| Chadian-Libyan conflict | 1987 |
The role of the USSR in the Korean War
Local conflicts of the Cold War The table of historical dates includes the most diverse. However, this list opens with the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. This war is a confrontation between South Korea and North Korea. The main ally of South Korea was the United States of America, providing the army with the latest technology. In addition, the US was to form 4offensive divisions that supported their Korean ally.
The USSR initially took a passive part in the armed conflict, but after the secret plans of the United States became available, the phase of the war moved into a more active direction. The USSR not only supported the DPRK, but also planned to transfer its own contingent to the territory of an ally.
According to official figures, the losses of the Soviet military in this conflict reached from 200 to 500 thousand personnel. Veterans of local wars, in particular, in Korea received the honorary title - Hero of the USSR. Among the most famous personalities of the Korean War are Pepelyaev Evgeny Georgievich, Kramarenko Sergey Makarovich, who showed boundless courage and courage.
The role of the USSR in the Vietnam War
Speaking of Russia's wars, one should not forget about the role of the Soviet state in the Vietnam War. The military conflict of 1959–1975 is dated. The determinant of the conflict was the claim of the Republic of Vietnam to the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. With all possible assistance from the United States, which supplied equipment and financial resources, the southerners began punitive operations on the territory of a neighboring state.
In 1964, the US became actively involved in the armed conflict. A colossal American contingent was transferred to the territory of Vietnam, which used prohibited weapons in the fight against the enemy. When using napalm, biological and chemical weapons, shelling of residential areas was carried out, which caused numerous casu alties amongcivilians.
Despite the efforts of the patriotic forces, the air battle against the US was lost. The situation was corrected by the strategic and military assistance of the USSR. Thanks to the support, air defense was deployed, which made it possible to transfer local wars in Vietnam to a more passive form. As a result of the war, a single state was recreated, which was called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. April 30, 1975 is considered the final date for the end of the confrontation.
Distinguished in the Vietnam conflict Kolesnik Nikolai Nikolayevich - a sergeant of the Soviet army, as well as senior lieutenants Bulgakov Vladimir Leonidovich and Kharin Valentin Nikolayevich. The fighters were presented to the Order of the Red Banner.
The role of the USSR in the Middle East conflict
Arab-Israeli confrontations are the longest local conflicts of the Cold War. The table of dates indicates that the confrontation is not over until today, periodically manifesting itself in fierce battles between states.
The beginning of the conflict dates back to 1948, after the new state of Israel was formed. On May 15, an armed clash took place between Israel, whose ally was the United States, and the Arab countries, supported by the USSR. The main conflict was accompanied by the transfer of territories from one state to another. Thus, in particular, Israel was able to seize the province of Jordan, which is important from a religious point of view for the Palestinians.
USSR played the most active role in this conflict. Thus, at the request of high-ranking officials of the Arab countries, the Soviet Union provided significant military assistance to the allied countries. An air defense division was deployed on the territory of the states, thanks to which it was possible to contain the onslaught of Israel and the United States. As a result, Popov K. I. and Kutyntsev N. M. were presented for valor and courage to the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The role of the USSR in the war in Afghanistan
1978 was marked by a coup in Afghanistan. The Democratic Party, which was strongly supported by the Soviet Union, came to power. The main course was taken to build socialism in the likeness of the USSR. However, such a radical change in events caused a negative response from the local population and the Muslim clergy.
US acted as a counterbalance to the new government. It was with the help of America that the National Front for the Liberation of Afghanistan was created. Under their auspices, numerous coups were carried out in the largest cities of the state. This fact caused a new Russian war in Afghanistan.
According to the evidence, the Soviet Union lost more than 14 thousand people in the Afghan war. 300 soldiers are considered missing. About 35 thousand people were seriously injured in fierce fighting.
Features of local conflicts during the Cold War
Summing up, we can draw some conclusions.
Firstly, all armed confrontations were of a coalition character. In other words,the warring parties found allies in the face of two major hegemons - the USSR and the USA.
Secondly, during local conflicts, more modern methods of warfare, unique weapons began to be used, which confirmed the policy of the "arms race".
Thirdly, all wars, despite their local nature, brought significant economic, cultural and human losses. The states participating in the conflicts slowed down their political and economic development for a long time.
