Russian Soldier Missing in Action Since 1980 Found In Afghanistan After 33 Years: Bakhredtin Khakimov is Now Sheikh Abdullah

A former Red Army soldier, Bakhredtin Khakimov, who had been missing since 1980 during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan has been found alive nearly 33 years. The former soldier, now living under the name Sheikh Abdullah, had sustained a head injury and was saved by an Afghan tribesman. An ethnic Uzbek, he is now working as a traditional healer in the Shinand District of Afghanistan. He was found by a team from Warriors-Internationalists Affairs Committee, "a nonprofit, Moscow-based organization that leads the search for the former Soviet Union's MIAs in Afghanistan."

According to a statement on the committee's website:

"He received a heavy wound to the head in the course of a battle in Shanind district in September 1980 when he was picked up by local residents. He now leads a semi-nomadic life with the people who sheltered him."

Two weeks ago, the missing soldier was found by the organization without any form of identification. But thanks to his ability to identify other Soviet soldiers, his identity could be confirmed.

"He could understand Russian a little bit, but spoke it poorly, although he remembers his Uzbek language. The effects of his wounds were clearly manifested: His hand trembles and there is a visible tic in his shoulder."

The former Red Army soldier converted to Islam in 1993 and married in Afghanistan and is a childless widower. Despite his new life, he still shows a heavy interest in meeting with his relatives. The committee is trying to arrange for this reunion.

The Warriors-Internationalists Affairs Committee is attempting to track down 263 Soviet soldiers who have gone missing and have an unknown fate after the 9-year campaign in Afghanistan. The organization has apparently tracked down a total of 29 of these missing soldiers in the country. Reportedly, 22 chose to be sent back to their Russian homes while 7 chose to stay on in Afghanistan.