He modernized the Russian Navy. At the time, Russia's navy and military were falling apart but Peter the Great was able to turn it around and invade neighboring countries so that Russia would be able to use the Black Sea and many other valuable shipping ports.
The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S. Response, 1978–1980. At the end of December 1979, the Soviet Union sent thousands of troops into Afghanistan and immediately assumed complete military and political control of Kabul and large portions of the country.
