Why in Egypt in the early 70s were empty packs of Belomor strewn along the roadsides? Why did the Angolans sincerely believe that Cuba was much larger than the Soviet Union? Why were Soviet military hats with earflaps in high demand among Afghans, and why was garbage a subject of serious business? How were Soviet military and civilian specialists provided financially in “hot spots” - from Egypt and Afghanistan to Angola? How did they live outside of military operations, how did they solve everyday and financial problems? Those who were not there, that is, the vast majority of our compatriots, know practically nothing about this. A new book by military historian Maxim Kustov gives the reader the opportunity to get acquainted with an almost unknown page in the military history of the USSR.