The Defense Minister of Artsakh, Major General Jalal Harutyunyan, reports that at 7:10am on September 27, the Azerbaijani military launched an attack along the entire length of the line of contact. The Azerbaijani military has been repelled in several locations. Reports indicate that the Azerbaijani military has suffered losses, including personnel, three tanks, two helicopters, and fourteen UAVs. Azerbaijan has confirmed the loss of at least one helicopter.
The governments of both the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh have declared martial law and have began mobilization of reservists.
The Artsakh President’s spokesperson, Vahram Poghosyan, highlighted the fact that, in addition to military targets, Azerbaijan is also shelling civilian areas. Not long after, Artsakh’s Human Rights Defender Artak Beglaryan reported two civilian casualties in Martuni, a woman and a child. Two others are wounded. There is large scale damage to civilian infrastructure, including schools.
Opposition media in Azerbaijan says that there is intermittent loss of internet connectivity, making it hard to post images and videos. Most social media sites are down. On the other hand, moments after the official announcement of escalation, Azerbaijani and Turkish media published materials from the front line, substantiating that the provocation initiated by Azerbaijan was planned well in advance.
It is worth noting that on September 25 the US embassies in Armenia and Azerbaijan both published announcements warning American citizens to stay away from the border, to be vigilant, and to closely follow local media.
The Armenian Armed Forces, citizens of Armenia and Artsakh, and the Armenian Diaspora are all united in our fight against the enemy’s aggression. Time and again, we have proven that our people come together to struggle as one to thwart the provocation of our hostile neighbors, Azerbaijan and Turkey. This time will be no different.