«I'll Protect My Land at the Cost of My Life»: 19-Year-Old Vahan Babayan, Current Taekwondo Champion, Killed

19-year-old Vahan Babayan, who was killed on January 12 during his military service in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, was the reigning champion of adult taekwondo in Armenia. He was also a participant in the European Championship and had previously been a youth championship titleholder. Vahan was recruited into the army in the summer of 2021. This was reported by News.am.

“He was very much looking forward to his service. He said, 'I'll protect my land at the cost of my life.' Vahan was brave, cheerful, determined, and loved to organize everything. The guys who were with him say that my brother died from a drone strike,” noted Vahan's brother, Volodya Babayan.

Vahan was from the city of Hrazdan in the Kotayk Province. He was a fourth-year student in the programming department at Hrazdan State College. He had communicated with his family a few days ago through letters. Vahan had an older sister and brother.

It is worth mentioning that on the day before, around 15:15, units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire in the direction of the Armenian combat positions located in the area of Verin Shorzha in the Gegharkunik Province, resulting in one soldier sustaining serious gunshot wounds. Around 17:30, the Azerbaijani units resumed fire on the Armenian positions located in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, also using artillery and drones. The Armenian side responded with appropriate actions.

On the day before, the Ministry of Defense reported that as a result of provocations carried out by the Azerbaijani units in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, two soldiers from the Ministry of Defense's unit N were killed: private Arthur Mkrtchyan (born in 2002) and junior sergeant Rudik Gharibyan (born in 2002).

The Armenian side also reported two wounded soldiers, whose lives are not in danger.

On January 12, the Ministry announced that the body of soldier private Vahan Babayan (born in 2003) was found at midnight with a fatal gunshot wound. The condition of the two injured soldiers is stable, and their lives are not in danger.