How many Russian troops in Vietnam?

Answer 1

That was one of the reasons why US airmen were restricted during their bombing runs; which they often complained about. The US didn't want to kill any Soviets or Communist Chinese personnel that were unloading their merchant ships in Haiphong harbor or setting up radar installions (which naturally entailed SAM missile sites); political yes...but the consequences could easily escalate from there...this was the difference between management and workers (high command and fighting men); and why they got paid the big bucks! To think ahead, and avoid catastrophic war. But yes, some Soviet (Russian) technicians are reported to have been killed during the war.

Answer 2

North Vietnam disallowed foreign intervention from the Soviet Union and Communist China due to fear of future occupation; as happened with France, then later Japan, and currently their war with America.

Russian presence was in the form of technicians operating SAM and Radar sites, and highly restricted movements of Soviet and Red Chinese advisors in the areas of equipment sent to North Vietnam from those two nations.

Which is why the US restricted the bombing of suspected areas containing possible USSR/Chicom personnal such as Haiphong Harbor where those personnal might be unloading equipment from Red Chinese/Soviet (Russian) merchant ships (cargo ships). Newly installed SAM and Radar sites were also off limits to American bombing; as they might contain Russian/Red Chinese personnal. After the those sites were "set-up" then they could be bombed; because then it was assumed those Russians and/or Chicom personnal might be gone.

Which in turn, is why Americans complained of "fighting the war with one hand tied behind their backs", and about the "political aspect" of the war. But those complainers never thought about the Korean War either. The bombing and closing in to Red China's border in 1950 brought them into the Korean War. The US vowed not to allow that to happen again (in Vietnam). Thus, no bombing...yes airmen's hands were tied...for a reason.