Azerbaijan’s demining efforts remove thousands of explosive devices

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) has published its weekly report detailing demining operations in territories liberated from occupation.

Between November 17 and 23, ANAMA teams carried out extensive clearance activities across multiple regions, including Tartar, Aghdara, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Khojaly, Khojavand, Lachin, Shusha, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, Gazakh, and Zangilan, as well as in the city of Khankandi. During this period, a total of 199 anti-personnel mines, 35 anti-tank mines, and 2,464 unexploded ordnance items were detected and safely neutralized, the agency told Caliber.Az.

In total, 1,527.4 hectares of land were cleared of explosive hazards, significantly contributing to the safety and rehabilitation of the liberated areas.

It is estimated that since the 1990s, more than one million landmines have been planted across Karabakh and its surrounding areas. Even after the 2020 war ended, nearly 3,000 Armenian-made mines, manufactured in 2021, were discovered in the Kalbajar and Lachin districts, highlighting ongoing hazards despite the cessation of active conflict.

Since the conclusion of the 2020 Second Karabakh War, landmines laid by Armenian forces have resulted in 412 casualties in Azerbaijan, raising the total number of mine-related deaths and injuries in the country since the 1990s to over 3,400.

As of October 2025, ANAMA has cleared approximately 140,000 hectares nationwide, yet large areas remain contaminated. Despite substantial government funding and the deployment of specialised units, including all-female demining teams, Azerbaijani authorities stress that international assistance is essential to completely eradicate the landmine threat.

By Vafa Guliyeva