October 29 marks 19th anniversary of Kovsakan liberation

PanARMENIAN.Net - Artsakh defense forces liberated Kovsakan (formerly known as Zangelan) on October 29, 1993, with the town and the neighboring settlements fully freed November 1.

Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan signed a ceasefire agreement August 31. Baku, however, used the document for boosting the military capacity namely with Turkish ammunition, about 1500 Afghan mujahideens (the total number reached 2000), about 1000 mercenaries (the total number amounting to 2000) and numerous Turkish officers.

Already in fall, Azerbaijan deployed 70000 soldiers, 240 tanks, 650 armored personnel carriers and IFVs, 520 artillery systems, 50 aircrafts and 30 helicopters along the borders with NKR. Meanwhile, Artsakh defense army consisted of 20000 soldiers (7000 from Armenia and Diaspora), 150 tanks, 220 units of armored vehicles, 150 artillery pieces and 10 helicopters.

Confident of its military superiority, Azerbaijani army resumed hostilities in Hadrut direction October 3, with NKR army succeeding in seizing strategically important Horadiz area on October 23-24. On October 27, NKR leadership suspended operations to enable the civilian population to move to Iran. However, already the next day, Artsakh defense army resumed actions to counter Azeri advancement towards Boyuk Bahmanli village. After the liberation of Mindzhivan railway station, NKR forces entered Kovsakan October 29, and took full control of the town on November 1 morning.