23-year-old Vartan is one of the soldiers who, during last month’s Tavush border tensions, downed an Azerbaijani reconnaissance “ORBITER-3” drone in Artsakh. On 18 July, just two days before the end of his military service, Vartan and his unit received their most responsible assignment.
“We were on combat duty, after which we received the task of locating the enemy’s unmanned aerial vehicle; we found it and received the order to shoot it down. Together with the head of our crew, we were able to carry out our mission excellently,” Vartan said in an interview with NEWS.am.
Vartan took part in the operation as unit commander. Precisely applying their knowledge, he and his comrades downed the enemy drone within seconds.
“We were overjoyed. We were all shouting together — yes, hit, and so on and so forth; it cannot be described, it is a feeling you cannot put into words. After all, you receive a combat mission in two years and you carry it out brilliantly. Our efforts were not in vain,” Vartan recounts.
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The unit members were decorated for this mission by the President of Artsakh. Vartan received the “Combat Service” medal. He returned home days ago, having completed his compulsory military service.
“I am trying to adjust to civilian life, but I keep thinking about what the boys are doing, how they are doing; they are even more motivated after the incident, always ready to strike the enemy,” he said.
Vartan will now follow the situation at the border from his home in Kapan, but without losing the soldier’s vigilance, so that in case of need he can come to the aid of his fellow servicemen as quickly as possible.
