General Yazov, the Defense Minister of Soviet Union, ordered the 40th Army to violate the agreement with Ahmad Shah Massoud, who commanded a large force in the Panjshir Valley, and attack his relaxed and exposed forces. The Soviet attack was initiated to protect Najibullah, who did not have a ceasefire in effect with Massoud, and who rightly feared an offensive by Massoud's forces after the Soviet withdrawal. General Gromov, the 40th Army Commander, objected to the operation, but reluctantly obeyed the order. "Typhoon" began on 23 January and continued for three days. To minimize their own losses, the Soviets abstained from close-range fighting. Instead, they used long-range artillery, surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missiles. Numerous civilian casualties were reported. Massoud had not threatened the withdrawal to this point and did not attack Soviet forces after they breached the agreement. Overall, the Soviet attack represented a defeat for Massoud's forces, who lost 600 fighters killed and wounded.
General Yazov the Defense Minister of Soviet Union ordered the 40th Army to violate the agreement with Ahmad Shah Massoud who commanded a large force in the Panjshir Valley and attack his relaxed and exposed forces The Soviet attack was initiated to protect Najibullah who did not have a ceasefire in effect with Massoud and who rightly feared an offensive by Massoud's forces after the Soviet withdrawal General Gromov the 40th Army Commander objected to the operation but reluctantly obeyed the order "Typhoon" began on 23 January and continued for three days To minimize their own losses the Soviets abstained from close-range fighting Instead they used long-range artillery surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missiles Numerous civilian casualties were reported Massoud had not threatened the withdrawal to this point and did not attack Soviet forces after they breached the agreement Overall the Soviet attack represented a defeat for Massoud's forces who lost 600 fighters killed and wounded