This publication reveals little-known aspects of history, detailing the assistance provided by Soviet and Russian military experts during their service in Angola between the 1970s and 1990s. This assistance was provided to representatives of the Namibian liberation movement SWAPO, as well as anti-apartheid fighters from South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) and units of Zimbabwe’s anti-colonial movement ZAPU.
These patriotic groups fought against the apartheid regime to achieve freedom and independence for their countries, and found support from the Soviet Union and Angola in their struggle. The struggle of these African patriots, including SWAPO, ANC, and ZAPU, led to complete victory. Zimbabwe became an independent country in 1980, followed by Namibia in 1990. In 1994, South Africa conducted free elections that dismantled the apartheid system. The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, which took place between 1987 and 1988, played a pivotal role in the liberation of Southern Africa. Military specialists from the Soviet Union also participated in this battle. Its end is celebrated annually as Liberation Day in several Southern African countries.
The publication features historical photographs from the museum of the Russian Union of Angola Veterans, the archives of photographers: R. Adler, P. Lantsov, A. Nikanorov, as well as images from the personal archives of Angola veterans: Yu. Andrianov, K. Alzhanov, A. Bendikov, V. Bitaev, M. Vlasenko, S. K. Val, D. Gukov, A. Dubenko, I. Zhdarkin, I. Zherlitsyn, F. Zulkarneev, I. Ignatovich, S. Kolomnin, M. Konovalenko, N. Kurushkin, A. Kuryanov, V. Lebedev, V. Oleinikov, O. Porembsky, E. Ryabov, S. Remizov, N. Rybchuk, V. Sagachko, D. Streltsov, V. Cheremukhin, V. Shiryaev, A. Shishov, A. Fomin, and others.
The photographs, documents and eyewitness accounts published in this edition are of enduring value for preserving historical memory and helping contemporary readers understand the process, goals and objectives of providing international assistance to African countries and national liberation movements in the late twentieth century.
USSR, Russia and Angola: joint contribution to the liberation of the Southern African peoples. Photo album / Compiled and edited by Sergey Kolomnin, Sergey Balakleev. Moscow: Studio “Ethnica” Publishing House, 2026. — 184 pp., 291 ill.
This is a brilliant testament to Soviet internationalist aid and dedicated support to the people’s liberation movements of Southern Africa. Those magnificent Soviet warriors represented in this masterful book will never be erased from our memories. They are indelibly engraved in our hearts and minds, and each one represents the shining example of human solidarity in the struggle against Colonialism and racism. The term «The Russians are Coming» still frightens the imperialists but brings joy to those fighting for national sovereignty and dignity.Our gratitude to those who designed and produced this wonderful book.
Ronald «Ronny» Kasrils
Это блестящее свидетельство советской интернационалистической помощи и самоотверженной поддержки народно-освободительных движений Южной Африки.
Великолепные советские воины, представленные в этой замечательной книге, никогда не изгладятся из нашей памяти. Они навсегда запечатлелись в наших сердцах и умах, и каждый из них представляет собой яркий пример человеческой солидарности в борьбе против колониализма и расизма.
Фраза «Русские идут» по-прежнему пугает империалистов, но приносит радость тем, кто борется за национальный суверенитет и достоинство.
Мы благодарны тем, кто разработал и выпустил эту замечательную книгу.
Рональд «Ронни» Касрилс
One of the MK leaders, Ronnie Kasrils, frequently visited Caculama; his son Andrew underwent military training at this camp. In the photo: R. Kasrils with M. Konovalenko. Angola, Malanje, Caculama camp, 1986. Photo from the archives of M. Konovalenko.
Serguei KOLOMNIN, interangola@mail.ru