The Human Cost Of War: Armenians Lost To Azerbaijan Conflict

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh has resulted in thousands of deaths on both sides. The First Nagorno-Karabakh War, which lasted from 1988 to 1994, resulted in approximately 30,000 casualties and created hundreds of thousands of refugees. The second major escalation in 2020, known as the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, resulted in thousands of casualties, with official figures from both sides reporting a combined total of over 6,700 military deaths. However, the actual number of casualties is believed to be higher, as both sides were accused of downplaying their own losses and exaggerating those of their enemy. In addition to the military casualties, hundreds of civilians have also been killed in the conflict, with reports of indiscriminate strikes and the use of inaccurate and indiscriminate weapons in populated civilian areas.

Armenian soldiers killed in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, which took place in 2020, resulted in thousands of casualties. Official figures released by the warring parties, Armenia and Azerbaijan, stated that Armenia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh lost 3,825 troops, with 187 servicemen missing in action. This included 742 killed servicemen of the Artsakh Defence Army and 45 missing. Notable Armenian military figures who died include colonels Sergey Shakaryan, Vahagn Asatryan, and Artur Sargsyan, the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Artsakh Republic.

The Armenian side also reported the deaths of several sportspeople in the military, including Gor Sargsyan, a member of the Armenian Judo Federation youth team, Albert Dadoyan, a European powerlifting champion, and Tatul Harutyunyan, the Armenian champion in powerlifting.

The exact number of Armenian soldiers killed is difficult to ascertain as both sides were suspected of downplaying their own casualties while exaggerating the numbers of enemy casualties and injuries. However, according to the Armenian authorities, about 60 servicemen were captured by Azerbaijan as prisoners of war.

The Armenian government-operated Armenian Unified InfoCenter claimed that Armenian forces destroyed 264 drones, 16 attack helicopters, 25 warplanes, 784 armoured vehicles, six TOS systems, four BM-30 Smerch launchers, and one Uragan launcher.

Azerbaijani soldiers killed in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War was a large-scale conflict that resulted in thousands of casualties and a significant victory for Azerbaijan. The war lasted for 44 days, from 27 September to 10 November 2020, and was marked by the use of drones, heavy artillery, and missile strikes. The conflict was fought between Armenia, the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh, and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories.

According to official figures, Azerbaijan lost 2,906 troops, with 6 missing in action. However, it is believed that the actual number of casualties might be higher, as both sides were accused of downplaying their own losses while exaggerating those of their enemy. The Armenian side initially reported the deaths of 3,825 servicemen, with 187 missing, but later sources claimed that the number of Armenian servicemen killed was over 5,000, with several times more wounded.

The conflict resulted in a significant shift in territorial control, with Azerbaijan regaining the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh and capturing one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh itself. The outcome of the war had a profound impact on the region, leading to the dissolution of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh on 1 January 2024 and the displacement of a significant portion of the Armenian population.

Armenian civilians killed in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, fought between Armenia, the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh, and Azerbaijan, resulted in thousands of casualties. The official figures released by the belligerents put the number of Armenian servicemen killed at 3,825, with 187 missing in action. However, a doctor in Stepanakert, the capital of Artsakh, reported that the number of Armenian civilian deaths could be as high as 300 to 400. The Armenian authorities stated that 85 civilians were killed, while another 21 were missing. The total number of reported civilian fatalities on both sides was at least 185, with the whereabouts of 21 Armenian civilians unknown.

The conflict caused significant displacement, with approximately half of Nagorno-Karabakh's population, or about 70,000 people, forced to flee. The Armenian sources indicated that clashes resulted in the displacement of almost the entire population of the enclave, with more than 100,000 people fleeing to Armenia within a week after the Azerbaijani offensive.

The war was marked by the use of drones, heavy artillery, missile strikes, and state propaganda. The widespread use of drones by Azerbaijan was considered crucial in determining the conflict's outcome. Both sides were accused of targeting civilian areas and densely populated areas, resulting in the destruction of homes and buildings. The Armenian military was accused of targeting civilian structures in densely populated areas, while Azerbaijan was accused of using drones to strike Armenian air defences and isolate and destroy Armenian positions.

The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War resulted in a significant Azerbaijani victory, with Azerbaijan reclaiming most of the territory it had lost in the earlier war. The conflict ended with a ceasefire agreement signed on November 10, 2020, which was mediated by Russia and reinforced by Russian peacekeepers.

Azerbaijani civilians killed in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, fought between September and November 2020, resulted in the deaths of at least 100 Azerbaijani civilians, with 416 injured. The total number of reported civilian fatalities on both sides was at least 185.

The conflict was marked by the deployment of drones, heavy artillery, missile strikes, and state propaganda, with Azerbaijan's use of drones seen as crucial in determining the conflict's outcome. Civilian areas, including major cities, were hit, with many buildings and homes destroyed.

The war officially resulted in thousands of casualties, with official figures from both sides reporting low thousands. However, it is believed that the actual number of casualties was higher, as both sides were accused of downplaying their own losses and exaggerating those of their enemy.

The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War was a large-scale conflict that resulted in a significant Azerbaijani victory, with Azerbaijan regaining control of the disputed territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh and capturing one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh itself. The war ended with a tripartite ceasefire agreement on November 10, 2020, with Russian peacekeepers deployed to the region.

Armenian POWs during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, which lasted 44 days and ended in an Azerbaijani victory, saw an unconfirmed number of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) held captive in Azerbaijan. There were reports of Armenian POWs being mistreated and charged in Azerbaijan, leading to a case at the International Court of Justice.

The exact number of Armenian POWs is unclear, but various sources provide estimates. According to the Armenian authorities, about 60 Armenian servicemen were captured by Azerbaijan as POWs during the conflict. The former Head of the Military Control Service of the Armenian Ministry of Defence, Movses Hakobyan, stated that already on the fifth day of the war, there were 1,500 deserters from the Armenian armed forces, who were kept in Karabakh and not allowed to return to Armenia to prevent panic. The press secretary of the Armenian prime minister called these accusations absurd and asked law enforcement agencies to deal with them. However, the former military commissar of Armenia, Major-General Levon Stepanyan, stated that the number of deserters in the Armenian army was over 10,000, and it was not possible to prosecute such a large number of military personnel.

During the post-war clashes, the Armenian government stated that 60 servicemen went missing, including several dozen captured as POWs. Additionally, on 27 October 2020, Artsakh authorities reported that their defence minister, Jalal Harutyunyan, was wounded in action, but unofficial Azerbaijani military sources alleged that he had been killed and released footage apparently showing the assassination from a drone camera.

The treatment of Armenian POWs by Azerbaijan sparked international concern and condemnation. The mistreatment of POWs and the filing of charges against them led to a case at the International Court of Justice. The European Parliament also expressed concern about the treatment of Armenian captives, calling for their immediate release and urging Azerbaijan to comply with international humanitarian law.

The issue of Armenian POWs became a sensitive topic in the aftermath of the conflict, with reports of mistreatment and pressure from the international community for their release. The final number of Armenian POWs held by Azerbaijan remains unknown, but the issue highlighted the tensions and ongoing humanitarian concerns following the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.

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