Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military operation along Armenia’s eastern borders, marking the most significant hostilities since the 2020 Artsakh War.
The attack targeted six main fronts: Vardenis, Sotk, Kut, Martuni, and Geghamasar in Gegharkunik Province; Jermuk in Vayots Dzor Province; and Mets Ishkhanasar, Kapan, and Goris in Syunik Province.
Related articles and reports
• https://oc-media.org/every-day-i-fear-the-war-will-return-the-displaced-armenians-returning-to-the-border-regions
• https://oc-media.org/live-updates-shelling-along-armenian-border-continues-for-second-day
• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/14/situation-tense-armenia-reports-new-clashes-with-azerbaijan •https://www.civilnet.am/en/news/674553/azerbaijan-resumes-attacks-on-armenia-as-russian-military-alliance-announces-fact-finding-mission
• https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijan-launches-wide-ranging-attacks-against-armenia
• https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-63872328
• https://www.eurasiareview.com/14092022-azerbaijan-launches-wide-ranging-attacks-against-armenia
• https://evnreport.com/new-updates/the-2022-azerbaijani-incursion-into-armenia-events-and-aftermath
• https://evnreport.com/politics/azerbaijan-launches-large-scale-attack-against-armenia
• https://oc-media.org/explainer-what-happened-in-armenia-and-azerbaijan-on-13-14-september
• https://tatoyanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Report-on-the-Azerbajani-unlawful-armed-presence-in-the-sovereign-territories-of-Armenia.pdf
• https://azeriwarcrimes.org/2022/09/19/desecration-of-female-armenian-soldier-by-azerbaijani-troops
• https://azeriwarcrimes.org/2022/10/15/18-azerbaijani-soldiers-torture-wounded-armenian-prisoners-of-war
• https://azeriwarcrimes.org/2021/11/16/18torturing-and-bullying-of-armenian-captives-by-azerbaijani-soldiers
Following the 2020 war, Azerbaijan continued its aggression, invading Armenia’s territory in the spring and autumn of 2021, occupying several dozen square kilometers. During the September 2022 aggression, the area of occupied territory expanded to approximately 220 square kilometers, including:
• Jermuk ~ 74 sq km
• Vardenis ~ 68 sq km
• Nerkin Hand ~ 23 sq km
• Black Lake/Ishkhanasar ~ 16 sq km
• Tskhuk/Ukhtasar ~ 20 sq km
• Tsitsernakatar ~ 12 sq km
• Kakhakn ~ 8 sq km
The total number of temporarily displaced persons from the Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor and Syunik regions of Armenia is more than 7600 people, mostly women and elderly people, including 1437 children and 99 disabled people.
About 192 residential buildings, 3 hotels, 2 schools, 1 medical institution were partially or completely destroyed.
7 power supply facilities, 5 water supply facilities, 3 gas pipelines, 1 bridge were damaged. 2 ambulances and 4 private cars were fired upon.
Armenia reported 224 dead, over 20 prisoners, and 293 wounded during the conflict.
Around 11:30 PM on September 12, 2022, Azerbaijani units launched a large-scale attack along the southeastern border with Armenia, targeting civilian infrastructure.
Artillery positions of the Azerbaijani army from which the Armenian cities and villages were being bombarded. (videos was spread by Azerbaijani servicemen on social networks).
On September 13, 2022, at 12:05 AM, units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces continued their intensive shelling of Armenian positions using heavy artillery and large-caliber guns in the direction of Vardenis, Sotk, Jermuk, Areni, Goris, Kornidzor, and Kapan. Azerbaijani troops also employed combat drones.
Video footages filmed by Armenian civilians
Night cannonade in Jermuk.
Shelling recorded in Goris
Photos of civilian property damaged by Grad shells in Karashen, Syunik region
As of 08:00 AM, the Azerbaijani armed forces continued shelling civilian infrastructure near the border using heavy artillery, UAVs, mortars and large-caliber weapons.
Shelling of Sotk by artillery at about 8:00 am on Sptember 13
Аs a result of Azerbaijani shelling in Vershina (Syunik), 4 residential buildings were damaged
Result of shelling on Kapan-Chakaten highway on 13 September 2022.
While providing first aid in Kapan, a 30-year-old doctor was killed.
Forests are on fire in Jermuk, as of 8 am there are 4 fires. Extinguishing fire in areas observed by the Azerbaijani troops is impossible.
Another example of Azerbaijan’s aggression against Armenia. An Azerbaijani shell that fell on the Gndevaz-Jermuk road.
Аpproximate coordinates of the fallen Azerbaijani shell 39.817155, 45.678176
Nerkin Hand in Syunik deprived of arable land and pastures due to Azerbaijani aggression.
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces had seized approximately 9 square kilometers in the area around the village of Nerkin Hand, including Mount Bardutagh. Following the September offensive, the territory under their control roughly doubled.
The pastures and arable lands on the slopes of the surrounding hills are now either under Azerbaijani control or lie in a “neutral zone” — between the positions of the Armenian and Azerbaijani forces.
As a result, local villagers are no longer able to access or use their farmland and pastures, severely impacting their livelihoods.
Damaged houses and infrastructure in the Sotk community
