Armenia's Defense Army Engaged in Heavy Fighting in Southern Direction Near Ishkhanadzor, Says Vahram Poghosyan

The Artsakh Defense Army's units are engaged in heavy fighting in the southern direction near the Ishkhanadzor area. In a conversation with Armenpress, Vahram Poghosyan, the press secretary of the President of Artsakh, stated, "The Defense Army is facing very heavy combat against the Azerbaijani armed forces in that area today."

Poghosyan noted that in the northern part of Artsakh, the adversary has not been able to advance a single centimeter. On the contrary, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have suffered substantial losses in both personnel and military equipment.

“We are truly living through a decisive period, and my appeal and exhortation to our people is to overcome this crucial test together. Today, we primarily need everyone's participation and sense of responsibility,” Poghosyan concluded.

It should be reminded that on September 27, the Azerbaijani armed forces launched a large-scale attack in Artsakh, targeting also the civilian population. As of October 19, the Artsakh military has shot down 16 helicopters, 22 airplanes, 195 unmanned aerial vehicles, and 566 units of armored equipment, mostly tanks, along with 86 vehicles, 10 armored personnel carriers, 4 TOS-1A heavy flamethrower systems, 4 Smerch, and 1 Uragan-type multiple rocket launcher systems.

The adversary has over 6,259 casualties. On the Armenian side, preliminary data indicates there are 729 fatalities. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have also targeted the military and civilian infrastructure of both Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia, resulting in the deaths of 2 civilians in Gegharkunik, with 36 civilians killed in Artsakh and 115 wounded. Preliminary estimates indicate damage to more than 6,700 private properties, over 640 vehicles, and around 1,110 infrastructural, public, and industrial facilities.

As a consequence of Azerbaijani shelling, journalists from both foreign and local media have been injured. A state of martial law was declared in Armenia and Artsakh on September 27. Humanitarian ceasefires have been declared twice, but the Azerbaijani armed forces have carried out diversionary operations and shelled civilian settlements in Artsakh.