‘Stepanakert is full of shrapnel. Everything is a target.’ Arsen Torosyan presents the situation

The aggressive actions of Azerbaijan have led to a heightened military situation in the territory of Artsakh, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries, including among the civilian population. This was stated today, October 6, during a briefing at the Unified Information Center by the Minister of Health of Armenia, Arsen Torosyan.

‘I returned from Stepanakert late last night; it was my third visit. Stepanakert was completely under bombardment. There was no distinction between the targets of the bombardment; they were both military and civilian facilities, especially infrastructure, which is essentially disrupting the normal life of the population.

The medical community of Artsakh is fully mobilized, as well as our partners from Armenia who have come to help. However, they are often unable to provide assistance to those in need because Stepanakert or other cities are under bombardment, and even ambulance vehicles cannot reach those citizens who need that help.’

Torosyan recounted witnessing a missile strike very close to the republican hospital in Stepanakert: ‘So close that the hospital trembled. The strike could well have hit the hospital itself,’ he said.

He noted that the medical personnel have the impression that a direct hit on medical infrastructure cannot be ruled out, which can be considered a war crime. Arsen Torosyan showed a piece of a missile, stating that all of Stepanakert is filled with such shrapnel. ‘Everything is a target. In the city, you witness destroyed residential buildings, various infrastructure objects leveled to the ground, which is unacceptable, especially with the use of prohibited weaponry.

Despite all this, we stand strong by our compatriots; the entire medical community of Armenia and Artsakh, having set aside their other duties, is engaged in treating and evacuating our wounded. Goris is the main transit point in this process. We will fight until the end and we will prevail,’” he concluded.