The Soviet-Israeli War, 1967–1973. The USSR’s Military Intervention in the Egyptian-Israeli Conflict

THE SOVIET–ISRAELI WAR, 1967–1973

the sailors would load the cannon and train them onto the Israeli trenches ... we were 2–3

km from the Israeli-occupied territory and I could see them.

Khripunkov’s frigate remained at Port Said at least through October, when he
“witnessed the Israeli navy’s tragedy” in which Soviet advisers “did all but press the
button.”^89 This incident, the sinking of the Israeli destroyer Eilat, would coincide
dramatically with the formalization of the Soviet military presence in Eg ypt.