Svetlana Alexievich's 'Zinky Boys' offers a harrowing, polyphonic account of the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989), piecing together the fragmented and often suppressed memories of those who lived through it. Through extensive interviews with soldiers, nurses, wives, and mothers, Alexievich unveils the raw, unvarnished truth of a conflict that was largely hidden from the Soviet public. The book exposes the physical and psychological scars, the profound disillusionment, and the unbearable grief of a generation. It is a powerful indictment of war's futility and a testament to the enduring human capacity for suffering and survival, revealing the devastating personal cost of military conflict.