CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VI (1) Contemporary-Eurasia-VI-1-engl | Página 14

ALEXANDER KRYLOV
to get ready for “knockout blows” against Stepanakert and other NKR
cities using heavy weapons, if “the hostile party does not stop
attacking our settlements promptly” 9 . Azerbaijan used Smerch rocket
launchers and Solntsepek heavy firing systems for the first time since
the military operations began. Nonetheless, on 4 April 2016, the lead
eventually passed to Armenia, which successfully neutralized the
Azerbaijani reconnaissance and sabotage groups acting beyond the
front line and started preparing for its own offensive. In the opinion of
Russian political analyst V. Mikhailov, the statement about possible
missile attacks against the NKR capital indicated the “close-to-panic
state of the Azerbaijani commanders” 10 .
The Azerbaijani offensive failed primarily because of the obstinacy
of Armenian advanced forces who prevented defense penetration and
efficient shelling by Armenian artillery 11 . As a result of the four-days’
war, the Azerbaijani armed forces managed to take just a small
territory located at the front of the main Armenian positions.
Given the loss of the surprise effect and advance of Armenian
reserves towards the front line, the Azerbaijani commanders
recognized the futility of further military action. Armenia decided not
to launch an offensive which could have led to an unpredicted
outcome for both parties. Under the circumstances, Baku and Yerevan
preferred not to aggravate the situation. As a result of negotiations
between the Armed Forces General Staff Chiefs of Armenia and
Azerbaijan held through the mediation of Russia in Moscow, the
parties agreed to cease fire along the entire contact line from 5 April
2016, 12 p.m. 12 The hostilities ceased but firing resumed in a few
days, and the same “smoldering” stationary war designed to exhaust
the enemy continued.
9
The Azerbaijan Defense Minister put the army on full combat alert to attack
Khankendi, 04.04.2016, http://interfax.az/view/669288
10
Mikhailov V., The Second Karabakh War: a battling draw with military and
political consequences, 15.04.2016, https://eadaily.com/ru/news/ 2016/04/15/
vtoraya-karabahskaya-boevaya-nichya-s-voenno-politicheskimi-posledstviyami
11
Interview with the General Balasanyan V. dated 16.04.2016,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-2B7kd80KM&feature=youtu.be
12
The agreement on ceasefire in Karabakh was reached in Moscow, 06.04.2016,
https://regnum.ru/news/polit/2112750.html
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