Senior Lieutenant of the Armenian Army Menukyan recalls the last days of the Karabakh war of 2020. He who commanded the third platoon Dumbon (Haivaly, “next only Azerbaijani toponyms) of the airborne battalion will be used, told how the battle for Shush was lost. According to Manukyan, on November 8, 400 Armenian servicemen were destroyed in 10 minutes of hostilities, and this is the biggest loss of the Armenian army for 44 days of war, transfers HaqQin.az with reference to Hetq.am.
On November 5, the airborne battalion was tasked with two platforms to join defensive battles on the approaches to Shusha. The platforms managed to get out of the blockade on the night of November 9th. With battles in the forest, they retreated and went to Hankendi at 4 am, the Armenian media writes.
“During the day, November 5, we arrived and took positions at the crossing of Dashalta road – Shusha,” says Manukyan. “We can say that there were no positions at all, there were some excavations with stones, trees, hill, without shelter, under open. sky. We fought in a clean field. “
Answering the question about what other units were there, the senior lieutenant reported that “On November 5, the district left about 800 people who did not participate in the hostilities, and remained about the same amount.”
“There was no contact between us and other Armenian divisions,” he continues. “In any operation, whether it is a training or combat, the connection is the most important attribute. I can say that such contacts in those days lacked very much. We did not have the leaders. And if there is no leadership, it is impossible to solve the problems. I was one of the commanders, and I had shortcomings. I was 23 years during the war. The older were officers, the more mistakes they committed, right up to escape. There was no one who gave orders, there was no leadership, there was no connection, there was no will. The air defense systems and Rab were worked. Attacks of the enemy each time was successful.
Fire walked on all sides: from Dashalta, Shushi, from Isa Bulaga, from Kyhardjahan … On the night of 5 to 6 November, we were surrounded by us. We were attacked from everything that is possible – from firearms to artillery. I have never seen such an intense fire. There was no moment so that somewhere did not explode the projectile. During the 44th day war, it was here that we had the most victims. On November 8, 400 people were killed for 10 minutes. “
Manukyan says that from November 6, his platoon was in the blockade. Armenian forces could not deliver food, water and ammunition. Could only come with armored vehicles to evacuate the wounded.
“During the day November 7, our command did not come with us to contact. Our relatives thought that we were no longer there. The intensity of the fire was so great that every ten minutes were either the victims or wounded. No armored vehicles could come up, only a few The guys from the Khojaly Tank Brigade came with their commander of the brigade, taking the wounded and bringing a weapon. On November 8, the chief of staff of our airborne battalion Major Valery Sargsyan was killed by sniper.
According to the Armenian serviceman, it was possible to get out of the blockade at night the price of large losses, retreating through the gorge.