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Hello and welcome to Conflicted. The the history podcast where we talk about the struggles that shaped us,

the tough questions that they pose, and why we should care about any of it.

I'm your host, Zach Cornwell, and welcome to episode nine, Pax Mongolica.

Music 9, P of Mongolia.

The Soviet Union had absorbed that impoverished nation

of herders and nomads into the colossal yoke

of its global influence.

And the Soviet forces were there, ostensibly,

as a check against the growing power

of an increasingly independent communist China.

But a small division of the Soviet military machine had another mission in that barren,

wind-swept country, a directive shrouded in secrecy.

They were there to closely guard a piece of land, a place which was known only by the bland code name,

Highly Restricted Zone.

The perimeter of this 240-square-kilometer stretch of land was guarded 24 hours a day by Soviet soldiers.

Tanks rumbled along its border constantly, and state-of-the-art MIG fighter jets could be scrambled at a moment's notice from nearby air bases.

But the weird thing was, this area of Mongolia was totally empty.

...