View source for Afghanka

{{Short description|Military uniform of the Soviet Army}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more footnotes needed|date=February 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2019}}
{{Expand Russian|Афганка|date=March 2024}}
}}{{Infobox military gear
| name               = Obr88 "Afghanka"
| image              = {{Photomontage
   | photo1a = Soviet Summer Afghanka.jpg
   | photo1b = Soviet Winter Afghanka.jpg
   | position = center
   | color_border = transparent
   | color  = transparent
   | spacing = 5
   | size = 345
   | foot_montage = 
}}
| image_size         =
| alt                =
| caption            = Two types of Afghanka uniforms. The summer version (Left) and the winter version (Right).
| origin             = Soviet Union
| type               = [[Military uniform]]
<!-- Service history -->
| service            = 1980s–present
| used_by            =See ''[[Afghanka#Users|Users]]'' 
| wars               = [[Soviet–Afghan War]] <br/> [[First Chechen War]]
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = 
| design_date        = 
| manufacturer       = 
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 
| number             = 
| variants           = See ''[[Afghanka#Variants|Variants]]''
<!-- General specifications -->
| spec_label         = 
| weight             = <!---{{convert|123|kg|lb|abbr=on}}--->
| length             = <!---{{convert|123|cm|in|abbr=on}}--->
| width              = 
| height             = 
| diameter           = 
}}

The '''Afghanka''' ({{langx|ru|Афганка|Afganka}}; proper designation: '''Obr88''') is a type of [[military uniform]] system developed and issued by the [[Soviet Army]] in the early 1980s, still in use today in some [[post-Soviet states]] in many different variants. The name ''Afghanka'' is an unofficial popular [[slang]] term in Russian for the uniform, derived from its prolific use during the [[Soviet–Afghan War]]. 

They are typically made of [[cotton]] ({{Langx|ru|хлопчатая бумага}} or "Х/б", "cotton paper").

==Design details==
The Afghanka field uniform is made in a lightweight summer and heavier, lined winter version; both consist of a long, loose fitting 6-pocket [[Battle Dress Uniform|BDU]]-style jacket with large stand-and-fall collar, [[epaulette]]s, concealed buttons, armpit vents, and tube-style [[Cargo pants|field trousers with cargo pockets on the thighs]]. [[Kepka-afganka|A field cap]] made from sturdier cotton and featuring ear flaps which could be unbuttoned and lowered to protect the ears was supplied with the uniform.<ref>Camouflage Uniforms  of the Soviet Union and Russis, Dennis Desmond, Schiffer Military History, copyright 1998, {{ISBN|0-7643-0462-3}}{{Page needed|date=March 2019}}</ref>
[[File:Ukraine - WMD Dismantlement - April 1995 - Inspection team visit to various ruins of former Soviet Union (FSU) Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) production facilities - DPLA - 724a014243af49c195a67c6ee8e34f09.JPG|thumb|Ukrainian soldiers wearing the winter Afghanka]]
The winter model is composed of: jacket, jacket liner, trousers, plus insulated liners and suspenders. The liners are buttoned into their respective garments, and the outer garment can be worn without the liners. The jacket liner bears the fur collar of the jacket, usually in [[fish fur]] but occasionally in real fur (officer's uniforms). The jacket and trousers are lined with a pile-type material that helps insulate by trapping warm air, whereas the liners are made of a quilted material similar to the [[Telogreika]] uniform.

==Colouring==
[[File:რეპეტიცია საქარველოს დამოუკიდებლობის დღის აღნიშვნასთან.jpg|thumb|left|Georgian troops demonstrating the several cuts and colours Afghanka's came in]]
The Obr88 were originally made in a [[khaki]]-coloured material, but factory variants on occasion resulted in slight discoloration such as [[olive drab]], [[Tan (color)|tan]], and [[Sage (color)|sage green]].
[[File:USSR Butane Camouflage Uniform.jpg|thumb|Soviet Marines Afghanka in the three-colour woodland-style "Butan" camouflage, issued starting in 1985.]]
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Afghanka has been copied and issued widely by [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] members in various localized camouflage patterns.

==Operational history==
[[File:Afgan1987 Gardez UAZ469.jpg|thumb|Two Soviet soldiers in Afghanistan with the one on the right wearing the Afghanka.]]
The Afghanka began appearing in military units in the early 1980s during the [[Soviet–Afghan War]], hence the name. The design of the jacket and trousers may have been based on similar patterns used by other [[Warsaw Pact]] armies such as the [[Nationale Volksarmee]] of the [[East Germany|GDR]]. Initially only used in Afghanistan, the Afghanka uniform was in very short supply and was often issued to units rather than individuals and passed around as necessary for various duties. By the end of the 1980s, it had become possible for every soldier to be issued their own. Individual soldiers began marking the collars of their uniforms with bleach. In 1988 the uniform was adopted as standard issue, replacing the ageing [[73 Uniform|Obr69 Uniform]] in all theaters.

The soldiers found the new uniform to be very effective, especially in [[Afghanistan]]. Even without the liners in, a winter Afghanka is comfortably warm in temperatures of down to −20&nbsp;°C. Another advantage of the winter Afghanka over the preceding Bushlat and [[Shinel]] greatcoat was the greatly enhanced mobility and increased number of pockets.

==Variants==
The Afghanka was initially issued to regular units of the armed forces in a khaki colour. The uniform was also standardized with the [[Soviet Border Troops|KGB Border Troops]], but in the service's unique "birch" camouflage pattern (similar to that used on the [[Kamuflirovannyi Letnyi Maskirovochnyi Kombinezon|KLMK]] camouflage coverall) as well as [[Soviet Naval Infantry|Soviet Marines]], who were the first to be issued with the newest Soviet camouflage development of the time—the woodland-style three-coloured Butane pattern (also known informally as [[Dubok (camouflage)|Butan]]).

Although derived from a previous chemical-warfare uniform known as OKZK-D, the camouflage uniform made for [[Soviet Airborne Forces|VDV]] paratroopers in 1984 included many features from the Afghanka. Since then, various other uniforms evolved from the Afghanka in various camouflage patterns—such as [[Armed Forces of Russia|VSR]] (the standard field uniform of the Russian Armed Forces since 1993, and later flora camouflage (issued since 1998), and many others. [[Belarus]], [[Kazakhstan]] and [[Ukraine]] both currently issue Afghanka-cut uniforms in their own camouflage patterns.
[[File:Вариант "афганки" для Аэромобильных Войск Казахстана.jpg|thumb|VDV variant in camouflage.]]
The Soviet and [[Russian Airborne Troops|Russian VDV]] model, made in either khaki, Butan, or VSR, lacked the lower patch pockets on the jacket as the blouse was intended to be worn tucked inside the trousers, to better accommodate the numerous harnesses used with a parachute. Both the USSR and the [[Russian Federation]] have also produced the uniform in plain colours for paramilitary use.

==Users==<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->

===Former users===
[[File:Ветеран Афганской войны в "афганке".JPG|thumb|Afghan war veteran in Afghanka.]]

* {{Country|Armenia}}{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
* {{Country|Azerbaijan}}{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
* {{Country|Belarus}}
* {{KAZ}}
* {{Country|Kyrgyzstan}}
* {{RUS}}
* {{USSR}}
* {{Country|Turkmenistan}}{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
* {{Country|Ukraine}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Archives NextGen Catalog |url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7285638 |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=catalog.archives.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |user=trip_to_valkiri |number=1766081798914634128 |title=Use of Soviet "Afghanka" style uniforms by Ukrainian Armed Forces, 2000s period.}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=June 2024}}
* {{UZB}}<ref>{{cite web |title=imgur.com |url=https://imgur.com/a/WBhoJxB |website=Imgur |access-date=14 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2024}}
* {{Country|Democratic Republic of Afghanistan}} - Obr88 winter jacket issued to some soldiers and officers<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Shahnawaz Tanai - په لویه پکتیا کی ستر جګړه ایز عملیات! په ۱۳۵۷ هجری کال کې د انقلاب مخالفینو د مولوي جلال الدین حقاني ترمشرۍ د ګردیز او خوست ترمنځ لویه لاره (۹)کاله بنده کړې وه او هغه ځای ته اکمالات د هوا له لارې کیدل. موږ لمړی ځل په ۱۳۶۴ بیا په ۱۳۶۵ او وروسته په ۱۳۶۶ هجري کالونو کی د کابل ګردیز, نری کوتل او سټې کنډو له لارې دری وارې خوست ته اکمالات وکړل. دولتی پوځونو د لویو لارو په اوږدو کې د ژاوره، مغلګی او مستربل په ډیرو پیچلو جغرافیائي او جنګي ځایونو کې ستر جګړه ایز بریالي عملیات ترسره کړل . د عملیاتو په پای کی دولتي قوتونو ته د بریالیتوبونو په ویاړ قهرماني پوځي رتبې مډالونه اونشانونه ورکړی شول. {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/generalshahnawaztanai/photos/a.111631494397317/138215155072284/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2024}}

==See also==
* [[Panamanka]]
* [[Kepka-afganka]]
* [[Valenki]]
* [[Podvorotnichok]]
* [[Battle Dress Uniform]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* ''Soviet Uniforms and Militaria 1917–1991'' by [[Laszlo Bekesi]] The Crowood Press UK (June 30, 2011), {{ISBN|978-1847972606}}
* ''Inside the Soviet Army Today''. Osprey Elite Military History Series No. 12 by Stephen J Zaloga
* ''Russia's War in Afghanistan'' by David Isby
* ''Warsaw Pact Ground Forces'' by David Rottmman

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}

[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Soviet military uniforms]]
[[Category:Soviet–Afghan War]]
[[Category:Russian words and phrases]]