August 1993 marked one of the most consequential stages of the Artsakh War, as Armenian forces launched a series of coordinated offensives that liberated Varanda, Jrakan and Kubatlu, secured Artsakh’s southern approaches and fundamentally changed the military balance in the region.
The offensive began with the liberation of Varanda.
On August 22, 1993, the Defense Army of Artsakh launched a decisive counteroffensive based on a carefully prepared operational plan.
From the Martuni defensive area, two battalions commanded by Movses Hakobyan and Nelson Soghomonyan advanced under artillery support. After breaking through fortified Azerbaijani positions, they pushed toward the main highway and opened the way for the broader offensive.
At the same time, a battalion from Hadrut’s Tokh defensive district advanced toward Varanda. On the right flank, the 5th Brigade, commanded by Manvel Grigoryan, launched a large-scale assault, suppressing Azerbaijani firing positions and advancing along several routes.
The brigade secured the Varanda-Jrakan highway, captured Horadiz and took control of the strategic road leading toward the Araks River.
By that point, the 5th Brigade had advanced to within roughly 15 kilometers of the Araks. Facing the growing danger of encirclement, Azerbaijani forces in Varanda, estimated by various sources at between 4,000 and 7,000 servicemen, were forced to retreat.
On August 22, Varanda and the surrounding district came under the control of the Defense Army of Artsakh. Nearly 1,380 square kilometers of territory were liberated.
The offensive did not stop there.
On August 23, units of the Hadrut Defensive Region under the command of Artur Aghabekyan liberated several occupied settlements in Hadrut and continued advancing toward the Varanda-Jrakan highway.
At the same time, the Central Defensive District, commanded by Samvel Karapetyan, known as Oganovski, launched an offensive from the Sarinshen mountains. Armenian forces broke through entrenched Azerbaijani positions, liberated several villages in Hadrut and pushed into the Jrakan region.
Through the combined actions of the Hadrut and Central Defensive Districts, Armenian forces liberated Jrakan on August 23.
The city had been defended by Azerbaijani forces including the Lenkoran battalion and local militia units. Within the following forty-eight hours, most of the Jrakan district also came under Armenian control.
In total, roughly 1,050 square kilometers of territory were brought under the authority of the Artsakh Defense Army.
By August 26, Azerbaijani forces had been completely expelled from Hadrut. Armenian units stopped approximately 15 kilometers from the Araks River and established a new defensive line.
The liberation of Varanda and Jrakan created a new strategic situation.
Kubatlu remained behind the advancing Armenian forces and posed a serious threat to their rear. Azerbaijani units concentrated there could potentially regroup and strike toward the Berdzor corridor or against Armenian positions from behind.
At the same time, Kubatlu itself had become vulnerable. Its connection with other Azerbaijani-controlled territories had been reduced to a narrow strip of land along the Araks River.
The Armenian command therefore decided to eliminate the threat.
Units from the 1st, 2nd, 4th and Central Defensive Districts were deployed for the operation. The plan called for the Shushi Defensive District under Vachagan Ishkhanyan to advance from Kirs Mountain, supported by detachments from Khachaberd and Tumi in the Hadrut district.
The initial assault failed, and Armenian forces withdrew after suffering losses.
A week later, a new operation was prepared.
A battalion from Martakert was transferred to the Berdzor sector, while the Martuni, Hadrut and Central districts formed three assault groups.
On August 29, after Azerbaijani forces failed in an attempt to break Armenian positions near Berdzor, the Armenian offensive began.
The advancing forces broke through Azerbaijani defenses, captured the Khanlik bridge and secured sections of the Berdzor-Mamedbeyli road. Despite heavy resistance, Armenian troops continued their advance and entered Kubatlu on August 31, gaining control of most of the district.
That same day, through Russian mediation, a ten-day ceasefire agreement was signed. On the Armenian side, it was signed by Samvel Babayan and Arkadi Ghukasyan. Azerbaijan was represented by Safar Abiyev and A. Jalilov.
The victories at Varanda, Jrakan and Kubatlu were not isolated battlefield gains.
Together, they removed a major threat to the Berdzor corridor, reduced the danger of shelling against Hadrut, Martuni, Kapan and Goris, secured Armenia’s southern flank and gave Armenian forces control over key strategic roads.
They also created the conditions for the subsequent liberation of Kovsakan and positions along the Araks River, while shortening and strengthening the Armenian defensive line.
The liberation of Kubatlu completed a sequence of operations that had begun with Varanda on August 22 and continued through Jrakan and southern Artsakh.
These victories were achieved through coordinated operations, difficult fighting and the sacrifice of Armenian servicemen who transformed the military situation in a matter of days.
Twenty-seven years later, Varanda, Jrakan and Kubatlu were lost again.
What had been won through sacrifice, courage and military success was lost amid political and military failure.
But the history of August 1993 cannot be erased.
Varanda was liberated. Jrakan was liberated. Kubatlu was liberated.
And the memory of those who fought and sacrificed for those victories remains part of Armenian history.
