Battle of Hadrut

On 5 October, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that a battalion of the 1st Armenian Motorized Rifle Regiment, stationed in Hadrut, had fled.^[21] On 7 October, the Armenian authorities stated that the Azerbaijani forces were shelling Hadrut^[22] with heavy artillery.^[23]

On 9 October, at approximately 17:00, the Azerbaijani President announced that Azerbaijani forces had taken control of Hadrut,^[24] together with Əfəndilər, Qışlaq, Sor in south, Qaracallı, Süleymanlı, Yuxarı Güzlək, and Gorazıllı in the south-east of the town;^[25] This was denied by the self-proclaimed President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, who stated that the Artsakh Defence Army was in full control of Hadrut.^[26] "Komsomolskaya Pravda", and "BBC Russian Service" also contested Aliyev's statements, stating that the town was under Azerbaijani control.^[27][28]

Just before 04:00 (00:00 GMT) on October 10, Russia reported that both Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed on a humanitarian ceasefire after 10 hours of talks in Moscow (the Moscow Statement) and announced that both would enter "substantive" talks.^[29][30] Hostilities were formally halted at 12:00 (08:00 GMT), to allow an exchange of prisoners and the recovery of the dead, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).^[30][31] Nevertheless, the ceasefire was heavily violated by the both sides, leading to the ICRC halting attempts to recover the dead and exchange wounded and prisoners.^[32]

Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of bombarding civilian settlements prior to the ceasefire, with both sides denying the other's accusations.^[33][34] Each side also accused the other of breaking the ceasefire.^[34][35] On 10 October, heavy fighting occurred in Hadrut, accompanied by shelling, with Azerbaijan moving deeper into the conflict zone. According to the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh, an operation to neutralize an Azerbaijani "sabotage and reconnaissance group" was underway in Hadrut.^[36] This group reportedly consisted of 200 men and infiltrated the town from both sides.^[37] According to Hadrut authorities, Azerbaijani attack on Hadrut was not supported by either artillery fire or tanks, and the group's goal was to "fix its presence."^[38] Both Artsakh and Azerbaijan accused each other of attacking Hadrut, where both parties claimed a presence.^[39] The BBC Russian Service reported that the town was under Armenian control.^[40] In the evening, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the Azerbaijani forces had repelled an Armenian offensive from Tuğ.^[4]

On 12 October, Azerbaijani President Aliyev stated that all the neighborhoods of Hadrut were under Azerbaijani control,^[41] and that Armenian Special Forces had tried to retake the town, but had been defeated.^[42] Meanwhile, the Armenian MoD stated that the town was under Armenian control, with Azerbaijani forces constantly attempting to make inroads into the town.^[43][44][45] The Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, later stated that military operations were occurring in the vicinity of Hadrut.^[46] The next day, the Azerbaijani MoD released footage claimed to have been shot from Hadrut's center,^[47] but a BBC Russian Service correspondent alleged that the footage was limited to neighboring heights and Tagaser, not Hadrut's center.^[48] The next day, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the situation in Hadrut had remained tense.^[49]

On 14 October, the Azerbaijani MoD stated its forces had seized control of the settlement of Edişə in the west, together with Düdükçü, Ciraquz, and Edilli in the north of Hadrut.^[50] On 16 October, the Armenian MoD stated that Tuğ and Qırmızı Bazar were being shelled by Azerbaijani forces.^[51] The same day, Azerbaijan stated it had seized control of Xırmancıq and Ağbulaq to the north of Hadrut, and Axullu in the north-east of Hadrut,^[52] while the Azerbaijani MoD released footage apparently showing Hadrut and surrounding villages under Azerbaijani control.^[53] The Armenian MoD reiterated that they were still in control of Hadrut,^[54] but the Armenian authorities avoided providing a concrete answer to the questions of a BBC Russian Service correspondent regarding which side controlled the town.^[55]

On 17 October, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the situation in Hadrut remained tense.^[56] On 18 October, an RIA Novosti correspondent reported an exchange of heavy artillery near Hadrut.^[57] Subsequently, the Azerbaijani MoD claimed to have downed an Armenian Su-25 warplane in the region; Armenia issued a denial.^[58] The next day, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the situation in Hadrut and the surrounding areas were relatively stable^[59] but then stated that the Azerbaijani forces continued combat operations against the Armenian forces in the surroundings of the town and penetrated their defences.^[4] Approximately one hour later, it stated that Armenian forces had attacked Azerbaijani lines around the town but had been repelled.^[60] In the evening, the Azerbaijani authorities released images demonstrating a presence within the town.^[61] On 20 October, beginning in the morning, heavy clashes occurred near Hadrut,^[62] with Azerbaijani offensives taking place,^[63] accompanied by artillery support.^[64] Two days later, the Azerbaijani MoD stated that the Armenian volunteers recently arrived to the north of Hadrut had fled,^[65] while Artsakh authorities stated that clashes were taking place in Qirmizi Bazar, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of Hadrut.^[66] On 23 October, clashes occurred near Hadrut.^[67] On 27 October, the Armenian MoD stated that the Azerbaijani forces were shelling Khojavend; Azerbaijan issued a denial.^[68]

As of 19 October, Armenian authorities reported 11 Armenian civilians killed in Hadrut and in surroundings areas during the battle;^[5] as of 10 October, Azerbaijani authorities reported one Azerbaijani medical worker seriously injured from shellfire.^[7]

As of 19 October, Azerbaijani authorities stated that at least 38 Armenian servicemen had been killed in an ambush, but that more were subsequently killed. Also, Azerbaijani authorities claimed the destruction of one command post, 14 T-72s, three BMP-2s, 22 other vehicles, 17 BM-21 "Grad" MLRS, seven artillery pieces, 15 D-1, D-20, and D-30 howitzers, five 2S1 "Gvozdika" howitzers, three 2A36 Hyacinth-B guns, three UAVs downed, 13 air defense systems destroyed, one ZSU-23-4 Shilkas, one radar station, and seven ammunition trucks.^[4]

After the signing of the trilateral peace deal, Arayik Harutyunyan, the self-proclaimed President of Artsakh stated that during the battle approximately 1000-1500 Armenian soldiers fled Hadrut.^[69]

On 15 October, a video surfaced of two captured Armenians, 25-year-old Yuri Adamyan and 73-year-old Benik Hakobyan, being executed in Hadrut by Azerbaijani soldiers;^[70] Artsakh authorities identified Hakobyan as a civilian of Hadrut.^[71] The Armenian representation in the European Court of Human Rights stated that they were investigating filing an official complaint with the court.^[72] Bellingcat analysed the videos and concluded that the footage was real and that both the executed were Armenian combatants captured by Azerbaijani forces between 9 and 15 October and then executed.^[70] The BBC corroborated Bellingcat's investigation of the execution.^[73]