168: How we liberated Shush

On May 8, 1992, the operation to liberate Shushi began. The liberation of the city began with the participation of the Armenian armed forces and volunteer detachments from the settlements adjacent to the city.

On May 8, the liberation of Shushi begins, with attacks launched from four directions of the city. From the moment the hostilities began, the press of the time reported detailed information from Shushi. Looking through the press of that region, we understand in more detail how we managed to liberate Shush. We also understand the scope of the military operations and the hourly changes observed in Shushi and the town’s streets.

 

“On May 8, at 5:00 a.m., immediately after the heavy shelling, Armenian formations with the support of dozens of armored vehicles from Stepanakert and Shosh village launched an attack on Shushi.

As of 9 o’clock, the leading groups of Armenians entered the suburbs of Shushi, where street battles began. The attackers were supported by two military helicopters. At the same time, Armenians attacked the nearby village of Kyosalar, trying to encircle the city. Armenian armored vehicles are shelling the Shushi-Lachin road from Karintak village. (“Azg”, Yerevan, 1992, May 9).

 

As of the afternoon of May 8, the data show that the Armenian forces are rapidly breaking through the enemy’s defenses in the Shushi foothills and are already preparing for urban battles.

According to the information of “Pro Armenia” news center, as of 15:00, the Armenian detachments broke through the defense of Shushi from the north and east. Fierce fighting is taking place in the western part of Shushi, where the prison is located. Armenian troops have captured the hill near Lisagor village and control the Shushi-Lachin road.

According to preliminary data, 8 fighters from the self-defense forces were killed and more than 80 were injured. The Azerbaijani army continues shelling the border villages of NKR. At 3:00 p.m., military helicopters bombarded Norshen, Murishen, Avdur villages of Martunu region and Shosh and Krasni villages of Askerani region with Nurs missiles.

According to the NKR press center, as of 5:30 p.m., fighting continued in the streets of Shushi. At the same time, heavy shelling of Stepanakert continued from four military helicopters and a Cy-24 attack aircraft. There are victims and wounded in the city.” (Ibid.).

The data of May 8 at 18:00 shows that the Armenian troops are already in the city, they are clearing the city from the Azerbaijani troops, heavy urban battles are going on, but the last remnants of the Azerbaijani troops continue to shell Artsakh from different places.

“As of 18:00, the Armenian armed groups were neutralizing the Azerbaijani positions step by step in Shushi. Battles are going on in the center of the city. ARF MTC reported that a large part of the city was occupied after midnight. The shelling of Stepanakert continues from the remaining firing points in the city. At the same time, Mi-24 helicopters, using Nurs missiles, participate in the shelling. According to some data, the Armenians shot down one helicopter.” (Ibid.).

On the morning of May 9, the Armenian press, the Armenian press of the diaspora and the world’s authoritative media are already writing about the liberation of Shushi. The news spreads especially quickly in the Armenian diaspora.

“On the morning of May 9, Saturday, L. The authorities of Karabakh (NKR) have announced that the neutralization of Shushi firing points has been completed. The largest military stronghold of Azerbaijani militants in the territory of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has passed under the control of Armenians. According to information received from military and other sources, in the early morning of May 9, Azerbaijani militants in Shushi stopped fierce resistance and slowly began to retreat, leaving their positions and firing positions. (“Alik”, Tehran, 1992, May 9).

The testimonies of the press of the time show that the liberation of Shushi was the result of the united will, organization and purpose of the Armenian people. Every phase of the battles, every hour of the recorded change testifies to the determination with which the Armenian forces were able to overcome the difficulties and achieve a strategically important victory. The liberation of Shushi became a turning point in the course of the Artsakh war.

It strengthened the military positions of Armenia and Artsakh, as well as national self-awareness and faith in one’s own forces.

The liberation of Shushi still remains in the historical memory of the Armenian people as a symbol of heroism, unity and victory.

Z. I hesitated

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