2 years have passed since the local anti-terror measures carried out by the Azerbaijani Army in Karabakh.
The Modern.az website has interviewed Şərafəddin Xankişiyev, a participant in the anti-terror operations and a reconnaissance chief warrant officer.
“I remember every moment of the anti-terror operations. Because we had significant activity in these operations," said our interviewee, Şərafəddin Xankişiyev, who was the first to set foot in Khankendi after 32 years, speaking to our website.
He stated that our main goal was not to allow Khankendi and Khojaly to remain under occupation, and to liberate these territories by any means necessary.
“To this end, we did our best and actively participated in the liberation of our lands.
Approximately 8 days before the anti-terror operation, together with Colonel Idris Isayev, we went on a reconnaissance mission to the Khankendi area. For 7 days, we remained behind enemy lines, continuously observing the territory. During this period, we precisely identified the locations of 9 enemy secret posts and relayed them to our unit. These posts were subsequently neutralized by artillery strikes, which created conditions for special forces to freely pass behind enemy lines.”
Our interviewee stated that, in addition, they organized the passage of weapons and ammunition in that direction by deceiving the enemy:
“I safely delivered these weapons in the direction of Isa Bulaghi.
I should note that approximately 10 days before the anti-terror operation, I also actively participated in the process of transporting heavy weapons from Shusha city to the front line. At that time, although Russian peacekeepers tried to return our weapons, we, as a group of 7 people, hid the ammunition inside food products, reloaded them onto vehicles, and transported them to the front line.”
Our interviewee also emphasized that as a result of the intelligence gathered, the enemy's secret posts were completely destroyed in the very first minutes of the anti-terror operation:
“Thanks to the advantage gained, our units were able to advance rapidly.
In the final hours of the war, I also relayed the location of a highly strategic post situated at the foothills of the Khankendi mountains to our unit. This post was guarded by an enemy contingent of 45 personnel, and our units were struggling to capture it. At that moment, on my personal initiative, with the first shot fired from my “Fagot” weapon – a missile – I struck this post directly in the center, and as a result, all personnel there were annihilated.
As a result of this operation, the high ground came under our control.
I must note that in these operations, we have continuously carried out combat missions against the enemy not only during the anti-terror phase but also since 2012. Between 2012 and 2016, we neutralized many enemy positions. Following the April battles of 2016, the experience of the 44-day Patriotic War was fully applied in 2023 – as a result, our lands were liberated from occupation.”
Our interviewee also noted that he actively participated in a 4-day battle during a devastating strike combat mission that occurred one year before the anti-terror operation:
“During this period, heavy blows were dealt to enemy equipment, and they suffered significant losses. We entered the battle fully prepared and with high motivation.
After the enemy's posts were struck, we also observed them attempting to flee from Khankendi and Khojaly in groups of 2-3 people. However, during this time, our units also suffered losses due to sniper fire. Our closest friends and brothers became martyrs. We will always cherish their memory,” Şərafəddin Xankişiyev concluded his speech.
