Zhora does not wish to speak about rumors that the war was preorganized or that land was handed over to the enemy as a result of treason. He has a lot to say, but he will not speak now.
Contract soldier Zhora Movsisyan destroyed five enemy tanks within two days, on October 9th and 12th. He had already been serving for ten months when the second Artsakh war began. The soldiers had not realized at that point, nor had they understood or imagined, what was waiting for them.
“On September 25th, we hurriedly left the military base, and we stayed in the concentration sectors for two days. At around 6:30-7 in the morning on September 27th, we heard the sound of a UAV. We were taken to the positions, and in the future, we were taken in accordance with where military activities were taking place,” Zhora told Aravot Daily. Then, he remembered the day he was injured. “We were on patrol on the night of October 12. After the shift, we slept and rested. At 6 in the morning, Armen, I, and two other people were on duty. I was observing using a Fagot, and Armen was watching with his binoculars. As we were observing, [the Azerbaijanis] fired at us from behind the trees with their ‘Shilka’ weapons. I looked in their direction. There were two Shilkas. I found both of them, and the distance allowed me to destroy both of them. I said that. Armen gave me connection. At that point, they shot us, but they didn’t shoot us with the Shilka. They shot us from even farther away.”
Armen died that day. He had destroyed 3 enemy tanks in 48 seconds. “I saw that Armen was leaning his head back and unconscious. I did not know then that Armen had died; I couldn’t even feel my own injuries. I got up and saw that my leg had been injured. I fell to the ground in shock. Later, I was able to crawl away so that they could get me out of there. I called for Armen once, but I didn’t get a response. It was a tense situation. It seemed as though I was calling, but no one could hear me. Since I was in shock, I didn’t make any noise at all, but it seemed to me that I was calling out. Psychologists told me later on that I was able to get out of that situation thanks to the fact that I am an athlete. But I think that it was my will to live…” Zhora said, adding that he did not lose consciousness even when he was taken to the hospital.
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They were speaking about the November 9th agreement. Zhora thought for a little, and then, with a shaking voice, said, “We fought so hard, but they gave our land away… there was pity, but at the same time, I was happy that no one else would die. I have childhood friends who were serving, and if the war continued… I thought about them.”
During our entire interview, he said the names of his friends in combat: Andranik Avetisyan (the driver), Makbet from Artashat, Martin, Armen, Hrayr… he said that friendship on the battlefield is different. He remembered how the entire battery would sing patriotic songs at night. He also remembered how he constantly saw UAVs on the first day of the war, and Andranik had his weapon ready. He said that there were many funny moments with the soldiers during those difficult days, but he can’t think of anything now. Regarding my question about his fears, he responded, “The first time we saw the tanks, we were excited. We were also nervous, but there was excitement in terms of who would hit them, and we tried to hit them as accurately as possible since we didn’t have many projectiles.” After thinking for a while, he said, “I fought so I could return.”
The boys’ positions, the ‘school positions,’ remained under Armenian control. Zhora is at least happy about that. He is a first-year student at the National Polytechnic University. He left behind his education to serve, but he will now continue. He has many plans for his future.
Nelly Grigoryan
“Aravot” daily
