Azerbaijani sappers defuse nearly 400 landmines, UXOs in Karabakh ANAMA weekly report

Azerbaijan has neutralised 189 landmines during demining operations conducted in the liberated territories.

As Azerbaijani Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) informed Caliber.Az, 89 anti-personnel mines, 100 anti-tank mines, 192 unexploded ordnance were found and neutralised in Tartar, Agdar, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Khojaly, Khankandi, Khojavand, Lachin, Shusha, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil and Zangilan from January 13 to 19.

A total of 601.8 hectares were cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance during the reported period.

Notably, since Azerbaijan's reclamation of most of the Armenian-occupied lands in November 2020, ANAMA has been actively engaged in clearing mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) from these territories. In 2024 alone, ANAMA reported the clearance of 62,023 hectares, with 2,372 anti-tank mines, 4,256 anti-personnel mines, and 59,163 UXOs detected and neutralized.

These demining operations have been conducted by ANAMA in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the State Border Service, and several private companies. The demining efforts have spanned multiple regions, including Tartar, Aghdam, Aghdara, Lachin, Fuzuli, Shusha, Kalbajar, Khojaly, Khankandi, Gubadli, Khojavand, Jabrayil, and Zangilan. Despite these significant efforts, the mine contamination remains extensive as Armenians planted them en masse during the three decades of occupation.

These mines pose a significant threat to civilians and hinder the return of displaced residents.

These efforts aim to clear the liberated regions of explosives, ensuring safety and enabling displaced communities to return and rebuild their lives. This initiative highlights Azerbaijan's dedication to post-conflict recovery and its commitment to addressing humanitarian challenges in the affected areas.

By Khagan Isayev