Soviet and Azerbaijani Forces Prepare Joint Operation Against Armenian Villages
Military buildup around Nagorno-Karabakh signals major offensive as Moscow backs Azerbaijan's territorial claims
Intelligence sources and local observers report an unprecedented military buildup around Nagorno-Karabakh as Soviet Internal Troops and Azerbaijani OMON (special police) units prepare for what appears to be a major offensive against Armenian-populated villages.
The operation, codenamed “Koltso” (Ring), represents a dramatic shift in Moscow’s approach. Rather than maintaining neutrality, Soviet forces now openly coordinate with Azerbaijani units in planning what Armenian leaders denounce as ethnic cleansing.
Strategic Preparation
Military convoys have been spotted moving into positions around the Shahumyan region and northern areas of Nagorno-Karabakh. Soviet military maps obtained by Armenian intelligence show detailed plans for surrounding and “cleansing” 24 Armenian villages.
“They’re not hiding their intentions,” reports Ashot Ghulyan, a parliamentary deputy from Nagorno-Karabakh. “Joint Soviet-Azerbaijani forces are preparing to empty Armenian villages by force. This is state-sponsored ethnic cleansing.”
The buildup includes:
- Multiple battalions of Soviet Internal Troops
- Azerbaijani OMON units trained in Baku
- Military helicopters stationed at forward bases
- Artillery positions established on heights above Armenian villages
Moscow’s Calculation
The operation appears designed to break Armenian resistance by demonstrating that Moscow backs Azerbaijan’s territorial claims. After the failure of direct rule and the catastrophe of Black January, the Kremlin seems to have chosen sides definitively.
“Gorbachev needs Azerbaijan’s oil and strategic location more than Armenian loyalty,” analyzes Dr. Vladimir Socor, a Soviet military expert. “By helping Azerbaijan crush Armenian separatism, Moscow hopes to regain Baku’s trust.”
Soviet military sources, speaking anonymously, confirm that orders come from the highest levels. “We’re told these are illegal armed formations that must be eliminated,” one officer reveals. “No one mentions they’re defending their ancestral villages.”
Armenian Preparations
Warned of the impending operation, Armenian villages organize desperate defenses. Young men dig trenches and fortify positions with hunting rifles and captured weapons. Women and children prepare to evacuate at moment’s notice.
“We won’t abandon our homes without a fight,” declares Vahram Sargsyan, a village defense commander. “Our families have lived here for centuries. If Moscow and Baku want to remove us, they’ll pay in blood.”
The Armenian government protests vigorously but lacks means to intervene directly. Geography prevents Armenia from sending substantial aid to surrounded Nagorno-Karabakh. Appeals to international organizations go largely unheeded.
Azerbaijani Determination
For Azerbaijan, the operation represents revenge for Black January and a chance to assert control over disputed territories. OMON units, filled with refugees from Armenia and victims’ relatives from Baku, show particular enthusiasm.
“The Armenians thought they could steal our land while we mourned our martyrs,” states OMON commander Rovshan Javadov. “Now they’ll learn that Azerbaijan never forgets or forgives.”
Azerbaijani media prepares public opinion, portraying the operation as liberation of occupied territories from “Armenian terrorists and bandits.”
Dangerous Precedent
The planned operation sets an ominous precedent - using federal forces to support one republic against another’s ethnic minorities. If successful, it could encourage similar actions elsewhere in the fragmenting Soviet Union.
“This violates every principle of Soviet nationality policy,” warns former Gorbachev advisor Alexander Yakovlev. “Using the army for ethnic cleansing will destroy what remains of inter-ethnic trust.”
International human rights organizations express alarm but have limited access to the region. The Soviet Union’s internal crisis receives less attention as the world focuses on German reunification and the end of the Cold War.
Countdown to Violence
As military preparations near completion, the region holds its breath. Armenian villagers spend sleepless nights watching for the first signs of attack. Azerbaijani forces eager for action strain at their leashes.
The stage is set for Operation Ring - a campaign that will demonstrate the Soviet Union’s transformation from arbiter of ethnic disputes to active participant in ethnic cleansing. The operation’s success or failure will determine not just Nagorno-Karabakh’s fate but the future of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
In the villages marked for “cleansing,” old men clean ancient rifles while women pack family photographs. They know that whether they resist or flee, their centuries-old communities face destruction. The only question is how many will die defending them.