Casualties of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War explained

The casualties of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, fought between Armenia, the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh internationally recognized as the territory of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan, officially number in the low thousands.[1] [2] According to official figures released by the belligerents, Armenia and Artsakh lost 3,825 troops,[3] with 187 servicemen missing in action,[4] while Azerbaijan lost 2,906 troops, with 6 missing in action.[5] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the deaths of 541 Syrian fighters or mercenaries fighting for Azerbaijan. However, it is believed that the sides downplayed the number of their own casualties and exaggerated the numbers of enemy casualties and injuries.[6]

The total number of reported civilian fatalities on both sides is at least 185, the whereabouts of 21 Armenian civilians remain unknown. Civilian areas, including major cities, have been hit, particularly Stepanakert (Khankendi), Martuni (Khojavend), Martakert (Aghdere), Shushi (Shusha) in the Republic of Artsakh and Ganja, Barda and Tartar in Azerbaijan, with many buildings and homes destroyed.[7] [8] [9]

Military casualties

Armenian

The Armenian side reported the deaths of 3,825 servicemen during the war,[3] while 187 remained missing.[4] The Armenian losses included 742 killed servicemen of the Artsakh Defence Army and 45 missing.[10]

By 30 September, the Azerbaijani authorities claimed more than 700 Armenian servicemen were killed or wounded.[11] Armenian Colonel Sergey Shakaryan and Colonel Vahagn Asatryan also died. On 2 November, Artur Sargsyan, Artsakh Republic Deputee Minister of Defense, was killed in combat.[12]

Armenian sources also reported the deaths of several sportspeople in the military: Gor Sargsyan, a member of the Armenian Judo Federation youth team,[13] Albert Dadoyan, a European powerlifting champion,[14] Tatul Harutyunyan, the champion of Armenia in powerlifting,[15] Erik Saryan, player of FC Lokomotiv Yerevan,[16] and Liparit Dashtoyan, a former player of FC Alashkert-2.[17]

Azerbaijani

During the conflict, the government of Azerbaijan did not disclose the number of its military casualties.[18] This was the first time Azerbaijan did not provide data on combat casualties, whereas during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1988–1994 and in the April 2016 clashes, the Azerbaijani army reported this information.[6] On 8 December 2020, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry released a full list of military casualties, with names, ranks and birth dates.[19] By 21 October 2021, the list was updated to include the deaths of 2,906 servicemen, with another 6 missing in action.[5]

The Armenian side reported 7,630 Azerbaijani soldiers and Syrian mercenaries were killed.[20]

Similar to the Armenian side, Azerbaijani sources also reported the deaths of athletes serving in the military: Arif Qeybiyev, a three-time champion of Azerbaijan in cross country running,[21] and Mukhtar Qasimli, the champion of Azerbaijan in bodybuilding.[22] On 22 October, the National Hero of Azerbaijan and veteran of the 2016 clashes, Colonel Shukur Hamidov, was killed.[23] On 23 November, Colonel Babak Samidli died from a land-mine in post-armistice search for missing soldiers.[24]

On 25 October, the death of an ethnic Russian Azerbaijani soldier, Dmitry Solntsev, was reported.[25] On 27 October, the first woman military casualty was reported, a combat medic who died while taking wounded soldiers from the battlefield.[26]

Syrian mercenaries

In December 2020, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the deaths of 541 Syrian fighters or mercenaries fighting for Azerbaijan.[27] The dead included a veteran commander of the Turkish-backed Hamza Division, whose death was reported by Sayf Balud.[28] In April 2021, Syrians for Truth and Justice confirmed 293 of these deaths.[29]

Civilian casualties

Armenian

According to Armenian sources, on 27 September, two civilians were killed by Azerbaijani shelling in Aghdam Province, with[30] approximately a dozen injured in Stepanakert;[31] the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry denied these claims.[32] On 10 October, Armenian media reported the killing of two civilians in Hadrut, a mother and her son with a disability, according to Armenia the killing would have been carried out by Azerbaijani infiltrators.[33] [34] Armenian authorities reported 85 Armenian civilians were killed[35] and 21 were missing in the war.[4] However, a doctor in the city of Stepanakert reported that up to 300 to 400 Armenian civilians had been killed in the war as of 25 October.[36]

Armenian sources also indicated the clashes have displaced approximately half of Nagorno-Karabakh's population or approximately 70,000 people.[37]

Azerbaijani

According to Azerbaijani sources, the Armenian military has targeted densely populated areas containing civilian structures.[38] Human Rights Watch confirmed total of 32 people killed in the ballistic missile attacks on Ganja.[39] On 28 October, following the Barda missile attacks that killed around 26 civilians, the number of Azerbaijani civilians killed reached 91 and with 322 injured.[40]

According to the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan, a total of 100 Azerbaijani civilians were killed and 416 were injured during the war.[41]

Third parties

On 1 October, two French journalists from Le Monde covering the clashes in the city of Aghdam, were injured by Azerbaijani fire.[42] A week later, three Russian journalists reporting in Shusha were seriously injured by an Azerbaijani attack.[43] [44] 13-year-old Russian citizen Artur Mayakov died of wounds received during the ballistic missile attacks on Ganja on 17 October.[45]

Equipment losses

Armenian

From the start of the war on 27 September to 17 October the Azerbaijani MoD reported the destruction of up to 100 Armenian tanks and other armored vehicles, up to 100 artillery pieces, multiple launch rocket systems and mortars, up to 150 vehicles, up to 60 air defense means, 11 command-control and command-observation posts, eight ammunition depots and one S-300 missile system.[46] On 29 September Azerbaijan separately reported the destruction of a BM-27 Uragan rocket launcher.[47]

On 2 October, the Azerbaijani Center for Economic Reforms Analysis and Communication estimated Armenian losses at US$1.2 billion.[48]

On 9 October Azerbaijan reported that from the previous day until then 13 Armenian T-72 tanks, two IFVs, four BM-21 Grad launchers, two 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled guns, three D-30 howitzers and two radar systems were destroyed.[49]

On 11 October Azerbaijani media reported the destruction of five T-72 tanks, six D-20 and D-30 howitzers, five trucks with ammunition, 11 other vehicles, three BM-21 Grad, five 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers and eight air defense systems.[50] On the same day it was reported that an Azerbaijani TB2 drone destroyed one Armenian Nebo-M radar station, having fired a MAM-L missile.[51]

On 14 October Azerbaijani media reported the destruction of five T-72 tanks, three BM-21 Grad rocket launchers, one 9K33 Osa missile system, one BMP-2 vehicle, one KS-19 air defense gun, two D-30 howitzers and several military automobiles.[52] On the same day the Azerbaijani MoD claimed the destruction of three R-17 Elbrus tactical ballistic missile launchers that had been targeting Ganja and Mingachevir.[53]

On 17 October Azerbaijan claimed the further destruction of one Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft,[54] seven T-72 tanks,[55] one S-300 missile system,[56] one S-125 missile system,[57] two BM-21 Grad rocket launchers,[55] eight D-30 and one D-20 howitzer, 10 trucks with ammunition and 7 vehicles.[55]

On 18 October Azerbaijan reported the destruction of another Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft[58] and, separately, three Tor M2KM missile systems by a precise MAM-L missile strike.[59]

On 19 October, the Azerbaijani MoD reported the destruction of two more T-72 tanks, two BM-21 Grad launchers, one D-30 howitzer, one D-20 howitzer and 11 automobile vehicles.[60]

On 20 October, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev released a detailed list of destroyed and captured Armenian equipment, according to Azerbaijan. The destroyed equipment included 241 tanks, 50 IFVs, six drones, three Tor units, one TOS-1 unit, four S-300 missile systems, 70 BM-21 Grad units, about forty 9K33 Osa units, five 2K12 Kub and 2K11 Krug units, two BM-27 Uragan units, 198 trucks, 17 self-propelled artillery units, 53 anti-tank weapons, 198 guns, 58 mortars and eight electronic warfare units.[61] The captured trophies included 39 tanks, 24 IFVs, 12 mortars, 25 grenade launchers and 102 cargo vehicles.[61] The captured tanks have been reused against Armenian forces themselves.[61]

On 21 October three more Armenian drones were reportedly destroyed by the Azerbaijani air defense forces.[62]

On 29 October, two more Armenian Su-25 were destroyed, according to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.[63]

Azerbaijani

Armenian and Karabakh authorities initially claimed the downing of four Azerbaijani helicopters and the destruction of ten tanks and IFVs, as well as 15 drones.[64] Later the numbers were revised to 34 tanks and armored personnel vehicles destroyed, two armored combat engineering vehicles destroyed and four helicopters and 27 unmanned aerial vehicles downed all within the first day of hostilities.[65] Footage was released showing the destruction or damage of five Azerbaijani tanks.[66]

Over the course of 2 October, the Karabakh Defence Army claimed the destruction of 39 Azerbaijani military vehicles, including a T-90 tank; four Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft; three Mi-24 attack helicopters; and 17 drones. Until 19 October, 100 Azerbaijani tanks are said to have been destroyed or captured.[67]

As of 8 November, the Armenian government-operated Armenian Unified InfoCenter claimed that Armenian forces have destroyed 264 drones, 16 attack helicopters, 25 warplanes, 784 armored vehicles, six TOS systems,[68] four BM-30 Smerch launchers and one Uragan launcher.[69]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: McKernan. Bethan. Zavallis. Achilleas. 2020-10-13. Trench warfare, drones and cowering civilians: on the ground in Nagorno-Karabakh. en-GB. The Guardian. 2020-10-13. 0261-3077.
  2. Web site: The human cost of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. 2020-10-15. www.aljazeera.com. en.
  3. Web site: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's speech at the National Assembly during the discussion of the performance report of the Government Action Plan for 2021 . primeminister.am . The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia . https://web.archive.org/web/20220414071601/https://www.primeminister.am/en/statements-and-messages/item/2022/04/13/Nikol-Pashinyan-Speech/ . 14 April 2022 . 13 April 2022 . The number of victims of the 44-day war is 3825 by today’s data..
  4. Web site: 187 Armenian troops still MIA, 21 civilians missing in 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war . . 21 March 2022 . armenpress.m . Armenpress . 21 March 2022 .
  5. On 21 October 2021, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan published a list of dead servicemen. It said 2,908 people were killed during the war, with another 6 missing in action,https://mod.gov.az/en/news/list-of-the-servicemen-fallen-shehids-in-the-patriotic-war-38076.html although at least two of the soldiers named were killed after the conflict ended,https://www.azernews.az/karabakh/173267.htmlhttps://sozcu.az/azerbaycan-esgeri-susa-yolunda-minaya-duserek-sehid-oldu/ leaving a total of 2,906 servicemen confirmed killed in the war.
  6. Web site: Military experts from Armenia and Azerbaijan question official casualty figures . JAMnews. 3 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  7. News: 2020-10-05. In pictures: Fighting rages in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. en-GB. BBC News. 2020-10-05. 2020-10-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20201005180202/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54418901. live.
  8. News: 2020-10-04. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Major cities hit as heavy fighting continues. en-GB. BBC News. 2020-10-05. 2020-10-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20201004100202/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54407436. live.
  9. https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/armenia-hits-civilians-visiting-cemetery-in-azerbaijans-tartar "Armenia hits civilians visiting cemetery in Azerbaijan's Tartar", Daily Sabah, 15 October 2020, retrieved on 12 December 2020
  10. https://arka.am/en/news/politics/some_742_servicemen_of_nagorno_karabakh_defense_army_killed_in_last_autumn_s_44_day_war_in_nagorno_k/ Some 742 servicemen of Artsakh Defense Army killed in last autumn’s 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone
  11. News: Up to 700 enemy soldiers were killed . mod.gov.az . en . 30 September 2020 . 30 September 2020 .
  12. https://www.interfax.ru/world/735286 Погиб заместитель командующего армией Нагорного Карабаха
  13. Web site: Young Armenian judoist dies courageously in Karabakh. Sport.news.am. 19 October 2020. 20 October 2020.
  14. https://sport.news.am/arm/news/115807 Արցախում զոհվել է Հայաստանի երիտասարդական առաջնությունների բազմակի չեմպիոն Ալբերտ Դադոյանը
  15. Web site: Armenian powerlifting champion Tatul Harutyunyan dies in Karabakh. Sport.news.am. 4 October 2020. 21 October 2020.
  16. Web site: Yerevan club footballer bravely falls on frontline. Sport.news.am. 17 October 2020. 21 October 2020.
  17. Web site: Ex-player of Armenia football club dies in fierce battles. Sport.news.am. 5 October 2020. 21 October 2020.
  18. Web site: Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict: Casualties mount in Nagorno-Karabakh battle. British Broadcasting Corporation. 29 September 2020. 11 October 2020. 5 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201005135938/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54338454. live.
  19. Web site: List of servicemen who died as Shehids in the Patriotic War. Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. English. 8 December 2020. 8 December 2020.
  20. News: Karabakh's Defense Army publishes another list of casualties. Armenpress. 12 October 2020. 12 October 2020.
  21. Web site: Üçqat ölkə çempionumuz şəhid oldu. az. Sportline.az. 30 September 2020. 21 October 2020.
  22. Web site: Şəhid olan Azərbaycan çempionu Muxtar Qasımlı. Azerbaycan24. az. 5 October 2020. 21 October 2020.
  23. Web site: Azerbaijani National Hero, Shukur Hamidov's name to be immortalized in Gubadli region. Azerbaycan24. 23 October 2020. 23 October 2020.
  24. News: Land Mine Kills Officer As Search Continues For Armenian, Azerbaijani Missing. 2020-11-23. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. en.
  25. https://menafn.com/1101014940/Ethnic-Russian-soldier-dies-in-battle-to-liberate-Azerbaijani-lands-from-Armenian-occupation Ethnic Russian soldier dies in the battle to liberate Azerbaijani lands from Armenian occupation
  26. Web site: 2-ci Qarabağ müharibəsinin ilk qadın şəhidi. Baku Post. az. 27 October 2020. 27 October 2020. 31 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201031132841/https://www.bakupost.az/2-ci-qarabag-muharibesinin-ilk-qadin-sehidi-foto. dead.
  27. Web site: 3 December 2020. SOHR exclusive Death toll of mercenaries in Azerbaijan is higher than that in Libya, while Syrian fighters given varying payments . 3 December 2020. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
  28. Web site: 2020-10-21. Nagorno-Karabakh battles Commander among 18 Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries killed, bringing total death toll to 188 . 2020-10-26. The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights.
  29. Web site: Turkey Recruited 2580 Syrian Fighters to Azerbaijan—293 Died There. Syrians for Truth and Justice. 19 April 2021.
  30. Web site: Karabakh woman, child killed in Azerbaijan's shelling. PanArmenian.Net. 2020-10-11. 2020-10-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20201004025152/https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/285539/. live.
  31. Web site: Միայն Ստեփանակերտում 10-ից ավելի վիրավոր կա, ներառյալ՝ երեխաներ ու կանայք. Արցախի ՄԻՊ. «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան. 2020-10-11. 2020-09-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929142757/https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30860623.html. dead.
  32. Web site: Azerbaijan Army does not shell civilians. 27 September 2020. mod.gov.az. en. 4 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201004151523/https://mod.gov.az/en/news/azerbaijan-army-does-not-shell-civilians-32324.html. dead.
  33. Web site: Azerbaijani subversive group kills mother and son in Hadrut. 10 October 2020.
  34. Web site: Azerbaijanis kill civilians in their home in Karabakh amid ceasefire. 10 October 2020.
  35. By 27 September 2021, 84 civilians were confirmed killed in the conflict, 80 of which died in the Republic of Artsakh and 4 were killed in Armenia.https://news.am/eng/news/665057.htmlhttps://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031392.html Another 22 were still missing.https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/295734/ Subsequently, the number of civilians missing was updated to 21 by 21 March 2022,https://www.armenpress.am/eng/news/1078446/ bringing the total number of confirmed civilian fatalities to 85.
  36. https://www.thedailybeast.com/attack-drones-dominating-tanks-as-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-showcases-the-future-of-war Attack Drones Dominating Tanks as Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict Showcases the Future of War
  37. News: 2020-10-10. Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia and Azerbaijan shaky ceasefire in force. en-GB. BBC News. 2020-10-10. 10 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201010002202/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54488386. live.
  38. News: 28 September 2020. One more civil person killed as a result of shelling of residential settlements by Armenia. en. APA.az. 28 September 2020.
  39. Web site: Armenia: Unlawful Rocket, Missile Strikes on Azerbaijan . . 11 December 2020 . hrw.org . . 16 April 2021 .
  40. Web site: 2020-10-28. Civilian death toll in Armenian attacks reaches 91. 2020-10-29. AzerNews.az. en.
  41. Web site: Civilian death toll in Armenian attacks reaches 100 . Ayya Lmahamad . 8 December 2020 . azernews.az .
  42. "Two French reporters 'injured' amid Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict," The Guardian. 1 October 2020.
  43. "Շուշիի Ղազանչեցոց եկեղեցու հրթիռակոծությունից վիրավորված ռուս լրագրողներից մեկի վիճակը ծայրահեղ ծանր է ." ArmenPress. 8 October 2020.
  44. Web site: Russia MFA: Russian reporters wounded in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone to be transported to Yerevan. Armenia News. 10 October 2020. 11 October 2020. 11 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201011141035/https://news.am/eng/news/606904.html. live.
  45. Web site: Russian Citizen Becomes Victim of Shelling of Ganja. Turan. 24 October 2020. 24 October 2020.
  46. Web site: Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry reveals list of the enemy's destroyed military equipment. Azertac. 7 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  47. Web site: Azerbaijan says Armenian's Uragan multiple launch rocket system destroyed. News.az. 29 September 2020. 18 October 2020.
  48. News: 2 October 2020. Military losses of Armenia in first 4 days evaluated in amount of USD 1,2 bln.. en. apa.az. 2 October 2020.
  49. Web site: List of Armenia's destroyed military equipment today. Defence.az. 9 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  50. Web site: A large number of forces and equipment of Armenian army destroyed - LIST. Trend News Agency. 11 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  51. Web site: Azerbaijan destroyed Nebo-M radar of Armenia using. Global Defense Corp. 11 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  52. Web site: Военная техника ВС Армении, уничтоженная сегодня ночью - СПИСОК. Trend News Agency. ru. 14 October 2020. 14 October 2020.
  53. Web site: Yaşayış məntəqələrimizi hədəfə alan düşmən raketləri bölmələrimizin qabaqlayıcı zərbəsi ilə sıradan çıxarılıb. Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. az. 14 October 2020. 14 October 2020.
  54. Web site: Düşmənə məxsus Su-25 təyyarəsi məhv edilib. az. Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. 17 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  55. Web site: New list of Armenian Armed Forces' destroyed equipment revealed. Trend. 17 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  56. Web site: Düşmənin S-300 zenit-raket kompleksinin məhv edilməsi. az. Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. 17 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  57. Web site: Выведен из строя ЗРК С-125 армянских ВС - минобороны Азербайджана. Trend News Agency. ru. 17 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  58. Web site: Azerbaijan shoots down another Su-25 aircraft of Armenia. News.az. 18 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  59. Web site: Armenian Tor-M2KM surface-to-air missile systems were destroyed: Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. Global Deffense Corp. 18 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  60. Web site: Cəbhədə son vəziyyət. az. Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. 19 October 2020. 19 October 2020.
  61. Web site: Президент Ильхам Алиев об уничтоженной и взятой в качестве военных трофеев технике ВС Армении. ru. Trend News Agency. 20 October 2020. 20 October 2020.
  62. Web site: Ermənistana məxsus daha 3 PUA məhv edilib. Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. az. 21 October 2020. 21 October 2020.
  63. Web site: The two Su-25 attack aircraft of Armenia were shot down. Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. 29 October 2020. 29 October 2020.
  64. News: Ոչնչացվել են հակառակորդի 4 ուղղաթիռ, շուրջ 15 ԱԹՍ, 10 տանկ և հետևակի մարտական մեքենա. ԼՂ ՊՆ. «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան. 27 September 2020 . 2020-10-11. 2020-09-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929175806/https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30860621.html. live. ռ/կ . Ազատություն .
  65. News: 28 September 2020. Armenia military top brass hold tactical consultation. 28 September 2020. 2 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201002201953/https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029179.html. live.
  66. Web site: 27 September 2020. Tanks Ablaze As Azerbaijani Forces Attack Armenian Troops In Disputed Nagorno-Karabakh. Forbes.com. 11 October 2020. 9 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201009181317/https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2020/09/27/tanks-ablaze-as-azerbaijani-forces-attack-armenian-troops-in-disputed-nagorno-karabakh/#7c73fb172f90. live.
  67. Web site: Իրավիճակի ամփոփում ժ. 18։00 դրությամբ. 02.10.2020թ. . Situation summary h. As of 18:00. 02.10.2020 . razm.info . 2 October 2020 . hy . 11 October 2020 . 7 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201007231427/https://razm.info/146648 . live .
  68. News: Azerbaijan's military death toll reaches 7,630 . armenpress.am . 8 November 2020 . 8 November 2020.
  69. Web site: Armenian Unified Infocenter: Azerbaijan army has 75 more casualties . News.am. 24 October 2020. 25 October 2020.

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