Armenians Commemorate November 9: Remembering Lives Lost in the 44-Day War

Today, Armenia solemnly observes November 9, a day marked by remembrance and grief, as the nation honors the thousands of lives lost in the devastating 44-day war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Each year, Armenians around the world use this day to reflect on the heavy toll paid by their community and to pay tribute to the civilians and soldiers who perished in defense of their homeland. This anniversary is a painful reminder of the invasion that began on September 27, 2020, when Azerbaijan launched a powerful and unprovoked military assault on the people of Artsakh. The attack targeted not only military positions but also innocent civilians—men, women, children, and the elderly—who bore the brunt of the violence. Thousands of lives were lost, including many young Armenian men serving to protect their homeland with the Artsakh Defense Army. The fighting transformed once-peaceful cities and towns into battlegrounds, upending the lives of all who lived there.  

The violence inflicted on Artsakh’s population was severe. Hospitals caring for children were hit, and residential areas where families lived were heavily shelled. Disturbing reports emerged of mutilation and brutal treatment of civilians and soldiers alike. Azerbaijan’s military campaign, which was supported by Turkey and benefited from Israeli-provided military equipment, also employed weapons that international humanitarian law restricts. Among these was white phosphorus, a chemical weapon with devastating effects that Azerbaijan used indiscriminately. Such tactics not only threatened the lives of Armenian fighters but also posed a dire threat to the entire civilian population.  

The people of Artsakh, numbering around 120,000 ethnic Armenians, felt the impact of this military onslaught acutely. For years, these Armenians had lived under the constant possibility of violence, but the 2020 assault brought that threat closer than ever. Azerbaijan’s objective seemed to aim not only at military victory but also at inflicting profound psychological and physical harm on the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. The invasion forced many from their homes, while others stayed, facing bombardments and the uncertainty of survival.  

On November 9, 2020, a ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia brought an end to the intense fighting. By then, however, the damage had been done. Azerbaijan had taken control of Shushi, Artsakh’s second-largest city, along with thousands of kilometers of indigenous Armenian lands. The ceasefire halted the bloodshed temporarily, but for many Armenians, it symbolized a painful compromise and an incomplete peace. The loss of Shushi and other significant territories was not just a geographic setback but a deep wound to the identity and heritage of the Armenian people in Artsakh.  

Each year on November 9, Armenians honor the memory of those who lost their lives during this conflict. This somber anniversary reminds the Armenian people of the high cost they paid in the face of Azerbaijani aggression and the continuous challenges they face in preserving their homeland and identity. For the people of Artsakh, Armenia, and its Diaspora, the impact of the 44-day war goes beyond borders and territory—it is about resilience, remembrance, and a collective hope for a peaceful future amidst a history marred by invasion, hatred, and Armenophobia.