On Monday, June 13, news spread about the death of Alexander Plyusnin, a participant in the raid on the Taj Beck Palace in Kabul, commonly known as Amin’s Palace. Plyusnin was the operative who helped bring down the Afghan dictator on December 27, 1979. He lived to the age of 73, leaving behind a complex legacy tied to a pivotal moment in Afghan history.
The International Council of the Veterans Association of the Alpha counterterrorism unit issued a statement of mourning: Alexander Nikolaevich Plyusnin died at the age of 73, a figure honored as the hero of the assault on Amin’s palace, a master of sports of the USSR, and a multiple champion of the KGB of the USSR in sambo. The council offered condolences to Plyusnin’s family and friends and recognized him as a legend among national special forces.
Within the Alpha Group circles, Plyusnin was regarded as a leader and a symbol of courage. Colleagues described his psychological discipline and physical stamina as exceptional. A TV profile from Star and personal recollections from peers highlighted his unwavering presence and the respect he earned from fellow operators.
In the Alpha Group, Plyusnin was remembered as an unofficial leader who inspired colleagues with steady judgment and steadfast dedication. A veteran described how Plyusnin combined warmth with intense focus, making him a trusted figure among teammates. He recalled the raid on Amin’s palace and Plyusnin’s decisive actions during that operation, emphasizing the impact of his leadership on the mission and on those who worked alongside him.
A fellow officer recalled a personal connection, noting Plyusnin’s generous, fatherly guidance and his promise to pursue their shared goals regardless of the obstacles. The sense of loss was palpable among those who served with him, who remembered him as a remarkable, generous, and influential figure in their lives.
How Amin was eliminated
Hafizullah Amin held multiple top positions in Afghanistan during his rise to power and throughout the late 1970s. He served as foreign minister, defense minister, prime minister, general secretary of the ruling party, and chair of the Revolutionary Council. Amin assumed power in September 1979 after moving against his predecessor and expanding harsh political repression against religious leaders and supporters of the prior regime. His era was marked by strong centralized control and ongoing political purges.
Amin publicly supported the idea that Soviet assistance would stabilize the country, even as Afghanistan declared the creation of a socialist society. He faced assassination attempts in 1979, and the sequence of events led to direct foreign intervention plans being considered within the Soviet leadership.
In the months leading to December 1979, the question emerged whether Amin might request or accept Soviet military aid as a means to consolidate power. A formal decision to act against Amin was reached in mid-December 1979 at a Politburo meeting and subsequently documented in a restricted file labeled in an enigmatic way. The outcome of that decision was a coordinated operation to remove Amin and discourage further instability in the region.
On December 27, 1979, a special operation known as Baikal-79 targeted Amin at his palace. The assault involved Soviet special forces and aimed to neutralize the leadership figure on duty that day. As Amin learned of the palace attack, he attempted to communicate with his commanders and asserted that Soviet assistance would be forthcoming. The confrontation quickly escalated into a direct assault on the palace complex.
Plyusnin was among the elite forces engaging the bodyguards on the second floor. During the clash, Amin attempted to defend his position with a grenade, a critical moment that ultimately led to the dictator sustaining fatal injuries. The operation marked a turning point in Afghanistan’s history and helped set the stage for subsequent military and political developments in the region.
Official casualty figures for the raid indicate that twenty Soviet personnel died during the assault on the palace. On the side of Amin and his defenders, casualties included Amin himself, his two sons, and a substantial number of Afghan guards and soldiers. The broader consequences of the event influenced the course of the Afghan conflict that followed over the next decade, shaping the region’s political landscape and regional power dynamics.
In the years that followed, analysts and historians have revisited the sequence of events and the operational choices made by the involved parties. The raid remains a focal point in studies of Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and the broader history of Cold War-era military actions in Central Asia. It is remembered by many as a dramatic moment when a single operation intersected with far-reaching strategic outcomes and personal narratives that continued to resonate for years after the fact. [Citation: Military History Archive]