Landmine death toll in Azerbaijan rises to 397 post-Second Karabakh war

At least 397 people have been killed or injured by landmines in Azerbaijan since the end of the 2020 Karabakh war, according to the country’s Foreign Ministry.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry made the statement on X, noting that landmine explosions have been injuring civilians in Azerbaijani territory for two consecutive days, Caliber.Az reports.

Landmine explosion hits civilians in Azerbaijan two days in a row. #Armenia’s indiscriminate planting of landmines since the 1990s, including post-2020-war, continues to kill and maim Azerbaijanis, with 3️⃣9️⃣7️⃣ victims since 2020.

These heinous acts, targeting, among others,… pic.twitter.com/JH16l67b3B

— MFA Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 (@AzerbaijanMFA) May 31, 2025

The ministry blamed Armenia for the incidents, accusing it of indiscriminate planting of landmines since the 1990s, including during and after the 2020 conflict.

"These heinous acts, targeting, among others, residential areas and cemeteries, violate international humanitarian law and impede the return of population to their homes,” the ministry wrote.

The recent landmine incidents in Azerbaijan have once again highlighted the ongoing threat posed by explosive remnants of war, particularly in the country’s Karabakh and East Zangezur regions. Despite extensive post-conflict recovery efforts, landmine contamination continues to endanger civilians and slow reconstruction.

Azerbaijan has made large-scale demining a national priority. However, progress has been hampered by the sheer volume of mines and unexploded ordnance left behind by Armenian forces during decades of occupation. Estimates suggest that over one million landmines were planted across Karabakh and surrounding areas since the early 1990s.

The danger has persisted even after the 2020 ceasefire. Nearly 3,000 Armenian-made mines manufactured in 2021 were discovered in the Kalbajar and Lachin districts, pointing to continued risks despite the formal end of hostilities.

Currently, around 12 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory is contaminated with landmines and other explosive hazards, posing a major challenge to rebuilding efforts and delaying the safe return of displaced communities.

By Sabina Mammadli