One-day battle for Togh

The fall of Togh

On October 21, 2020, the village of Tog in the Hadrut region came under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces. Having captured the southern territories of Artsakh, Azerbaijani armed forces approached the villages of the Hadrut region. Among them, the village of Togh stood out especially, which, having a prominent historical and cultural significance, has become one of the economic and tourist centers of Artsakh in recent years.

The capture of Togh and the surrounding villages became the key for the Azerbaijan side to further advance deep into Artsakh as roads leading Shushi and Stepanakert passes through them. Until October 21, the village militia and the regular army fought on the outskirts of the village, then on the territory of the village itself.

The head of the Togh community and militiamen tells about the defense of Togh during the 44-day Artsakh war in 2020. As a head of the community Vardan Grigoryan was in charge of mobilization, civil defense and evacuation of the village during the war.

He says that on the very first day the local militia from villagers went to the front line in the direction of Karakhanbeyli (27 km east of Togh). Later, regular army units were also deployed to the village alongside local militia.

The beginning of war

Starting from September 27, part of Togh residents were evacuated to the more remote villages of Tumi and Hakaku (blue arrows). At the same time, the local militia mobilized from the villagers went to the front in the direction of Karakhanbeyli (positions marked in blue near the LoC).

Battles of the villagers

Spartak Badalyan as well as Lernik Shaburyan and Aram Avanesyan were among the local militia formed from the villagers. Shaburyan is a retired officer and tells that they did not engage in combat actions in Karakhanbeyli but were waiting for a command.

“On the 14th day (October 10 - ed.) we learned that the Turks (Azerbaijani Armed Forces ed.) went around, moved into our rear, passed through the forests, and entered Hadrut. We understood that we had nothing to do there (in Karakhanbeyli - ed.), there was no sense for us to stay there, it was better to go and save our village,” says Lernik Shaburyan.

Lernik Shaburyan (left) and Aram Avanesyan

The Azerbaijani Offensive

After the fall of Hadrut, the Azerbaijanis launched an offensive against the villages in the north concentrating forces in the Ukhtadzor direction (highlighted in red).

Armenian forces, including platoons of Peacekeeping Forces operationally subordinated to the locals, took defensive positions southeast of the village of Togh, in the area called "Karvin" (highlighted in blue).

The Azerbaijani Offensive

On October 11, the Command of the Artsakh Defense Army recalled the Togh militia to return to the village and organize the defense of the village.

For a couple of days, the Azerbaijanis continued the offensive. From the direction of Fuzuli (Varanda), Azerbaijani forces advanced by vehicles and concentrated their forces in the area of the village of Hogher (highlighted in red). Armenian forces retreated to the outskirts of Togh village.

Soon, the villages of Jrakus and Mariamadzor also came under the control of the Azerbaijanis. Azerbaijani forces also advanced towards the village from the southern direction, from Hadrut.

Battle for Togh

On the night of October 21, Lernik Shaburyan went to the village to charge the equipment. In the morning, he received news that the Azerbaijanis were already near the east part of the village where the school building was located. Shaburyan and Avanesyan went in that direction. They checked the kindergarten and the school. Near the gulch (see on the map) they noticed an armed man. He took a fight position when they called him.

“He didn't shoot, but immediately took a fighting position. The terrain was bushy. He put his knee down to get a fighting position. I realized that he is Turkish (Azerbaijani - ed.). I shot two bullets in the head at once. This took milliseconds. At that moment, grenades flew at us from somewhere,” says Lernik Shaburyan.

The Azerbaijani Offensive

On October 21, Azerbaijani troops approached the borders of the village of Togh. A sniper group (highlighted in red) took up a firing position southeast of the village.

The main Armenian forces took up defensive positions northeast of the village near the section of the road connecting to Stepanakert. In fact, the Armenian side defended the retreat routes.

The first Azerbaijani tactical groups approached the outskirts of the village from the east, through the gulches marked with the numbers "1" and "2". The main battles took place in the first gulch, in an area called "Papunts Dzor".

Lernik Shaburyan and Avanesyan took up defensive positions. The fighting began with grenade and rifle fire. The Azerbaijanis outnumbered and began to surround them, but did not fully observe the defenders of Togh and could not understand exactly where they were shooting from. Avanesyan says they were low on ammunition and started shooting in single-shot mode.

Two Bullets

"I say, Lernik, keep two bullets in case of suicide. I won't kill you instead of you, I'll kill myself. No way to surrender, but to die. Whom shall we hand over in our village?"

Retreat

Shahburyan and Avanesyan contacted one of the friendly units and informed them of their location. After that Armenian forces open a suppressive fire creating conditions for Lernik and Aram to get out of the siege. After leaving the siege, they loaded up with ammunition and returned to the same place with the group, where they again joined the fight, inflicting losses on the attacking Azerbaijani troops and forcing them to retreat.

On the evening of October 21, Armenian forces assembled to await further instructions. Artur Aghabekyan contacted the Armenian forces and instructed Aram Avanesyan to accompany the troops and withdraw them from the village.

Aram Avanesyan

The fall of Togh

On October 21, 2020, part of the villagers retreated through the village of Mets Tagher, located to the north of the village, and the last group left the next day through the village of Tumi (marked in blue on the map).

Course of the war in days

September 27. The start of the war
On September 27, mobilization began in Togh, the first group headed to Karakhanbeyli. On the same day, began the evacuation of part of the villagers to deeper villages, Tumi, Hakaku, etc.

September 28: Mobilization
On the night of the 28th, the other part of the villagers, who were in different places on the first day, were mobilized. They also went to the front line.

On the night of September 28-29, the military hospital was deployed from Jabrayil to Togh. The village at that moment was in the rear.

Early October. Evacuation
On October 1, began a complete evacuation of the population of Togh.

On October 5, the Azerbaijanis targeted the ammunition depot in the village. Strikes did not result in casualties as most of the ammunition had been removed from the depot before.

On October 10, the military hospital redeployed again from Togh to the Karmir Shuka.

October 16-21. Defense of Togh
On October 16, self-defense organization began in Togh. Men under 65 were engaged in defense. On October 21, Azerbaijani troops approached the borders of the village of Togh.

Combat actions began in the vicinity of the village. The Armed Forces of Azerbaijan used artillery and UAVs. The road connecting to Stepanakert was in danger.

Night of October 22. Retreat
On the evening of October 21, around 20:00, the defenders of the Togh left the village. Azerbaijanis took the village under their control.

On October 22, Azerbaijanis set fire to several houses on the outskirts of the village.

The battle for the Togh was, in fact, very short. After a day of fighting, avoiding the risk of being surrounded, the defenders of the Togh left the village.

The fall of Togh