On March, 27th, 1985, less than one month prior to the described events, 334-th Separate Special Purpose Group (OO SpN) was transferred to Asadabad, Province Kunar, Afghanistan from Mariansky Gorki, Belorussian Military District, USSR. On April 20, 1985, at 22:00, the group moved out from their home base Asadabad on foot, crossing river Kunar by ferry, having received the order to comb Sangam settlement located in Maravar Gorge, mere 3 km from the unit’s quarters. There was a report that a Mujahideen observation post of 8 - 10 persons has been spotted in Sangam. The unit’s commanders thought of the operation as a large-scale training exercise. The plan was simple: while the 1st Company was to advance toward the settlement through the narrow gorge's floor, the 2nd and 3rd Companies were to