Destruction and Shrapnel in Nagorno-Karabakh After Large-Scale Hostilities in the Region

The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry in the early hours of 27 September reported an outbreak of clashes along the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-majority area that proclaimed independence from Azerbaijan during the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since sought recognition.

Soon after the initial reports, the Armenian Defence Ministry stated that troops of the unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh Republic had stopped an "offensive operation" by Azerbaijan on the contact line in the region.

Yerevan and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic promptly made the decision to introduce martial law and announced a full-scale mobilisation. Baku, for its part, declared partial martial law and refrained from a general mobilisation.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh have all reported casualties.

Sputnik has compiled photos depicting the aftermath of the initial shelling in the region, along with the destruction caused by the large-scale hostilities in the area.

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A woman looks from a window of her house following a recent shelling in Khodzhavend (Martuni) in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. On 27 September, clashes erupted between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces along the line of contact in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia accused one another of shelling civilian settlements.

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A toy and shards of glass near a damaged building in Khodzhavend (Martuni) in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.

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A local citizen shows a room in a damaged building in Khodzhavend (Martuni) in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh after shelling.

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An interior view shows a house, which locals said was damaged during a recent shelling by Azerbaijani forces in the town of Martuni in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, 28 September 2020.

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A man holds part of a shell following what locals say was recent shelling by Azerbaijani forces in the town of Martuni in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, 28 September 2020.

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A car drives past the remains of spent ammunition following a recent shelling amid armed clashes over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. City of Tartar, Azerbaijan, 28 September 2020.

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A damaged bus is pictured following a recent shelling in Khodzhavend (Martuni) in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. On 27 September, clashes erupted between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces along the line of contact in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia accused one another of shelling civilian settlements.

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A smashed pomegranate on a street in Khodzhavend (Martuni) in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.

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A damaged house in Khodzhavend (Martuni) in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh after shelling.

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A truck with broken windows on a road in Khodzhavend (Martuni) in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh after shelling.

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A view shows a household that locals said was damaged during a recent shelling amid armed clashes over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. City of Tartar, Azerbaijan, 28 September 2020.

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A man is seen next to a structure that locals said was damaged during a recent shelling amid armed clashes over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. City of Tartar, Azerbaijan, 28 September 2020.

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A damaged house is pictured following a recent shelling in Khodzhavend (Martuni) in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. On 27 September, clashes erupted between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces along the line of contact in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia accused one another of shelling civilian settlements.

Go to the mediabank