This was the position of the key to Talish and Mataghis: Vaghn Varagyan

Leader of the "Green Future" environmental movement, Vahagn Varagyan, wrote on his Facebook page: "Position 170... During the April War, the enemy's goal in the northern direction was to seize the Mataghis reservoir and capture the villages of Talish and Mataghis. It was the same in this war.

In April 2016, the enemy launched its strongest assault towards Talish's position 170. The enemy managed to temporarily take the position, but after being reinforced, our forces quickly regained control over that position. The enemy invaded Talish through this position and brutally killed and tortured the residents. The key to Talish and Mataghis was located right at this position.

What happened in the latest war? Our army, in a fight for life and death, held that position for days, while Turkish leader Nikol ceased troop reinforcements, and necessary assistance never reached Talish. As a result, five days later, the Turks managed to breach the front line, capture position 170, and the adjacent Yegnikner Aragasar.

Turkish Nikol opened the gates to Talish, the Talish forces fell into encirclement, but fought on without retreating, waiting for assistance. This was followed by the encirclement and retreat of the Mataghis forces. Talish, Mataghis, and the Mataghis reservoir fell.

We encountered that force at midnight on October 2, after five days of appealing to the responsible officials in Yerevan and Stepanakert to dispatch us somewhere. In the end, we were somehow sent (that’s a separate story), but we did not reach Talish. Those I spoke with said, 'If timely assistance had reached position 170, everything would have taken a different turn.'

170... I will never forget this number. The boys were missed, and the homeland was missed."