Detailed Chronology of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War
The following chronology summarizes major events. Some battlefield dates reflect the first public announcement of territorial control rather than the precise moment when all fighting ended.
| Date | Historical event |
|---|---|
| September 27, 2020 | Large-scale war begins along the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact. |
| September 28 | Heavy fighting continues; Armenia and Azerbaijan introduce extensive wartime measures. |
| Late September | Azerbaijani operations intensify across northern, central, and southern sectors. |
| October 4 | Azerbaijan announces the capture of Jabrayil city. |
| October 8 | Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi is struck twice. |
| October 9 | Azerbaijan announces the capture of Hadrut; Armenian officials dispute the claim. |
| October 10 | First Russian-mediated humanitarian ceasefire is announced but fails to hold. |
| October 11 | A deadly missile attack strikes residential areas of Ganja. |
| October 17 | Azerbaijan announces the capture of Fuzuli city; another major attack strikes Ganja. |
| October 18 | Second humanitarian ceasefire fails to halt fighting. |
| October 20 | Azerbaijan announces the capture of Zangilan city. |
| October 25 | Azerbaijan announces the capture of Qubadli city. |
| October 26 | Third humanitarian ceasefire fails to produce a lasting cessation of hostilities. |
| October 28 | A deadly cluster munition attack strikes Barda. |
| Early November | Azerbaijani forces advance toward Shushi and the Lachin approaches. |
| November 6–9 | Intense fighting takes place in and around Shushi. |
| November 8 | Azerbaijan announces the capture of Shusha/Shushi. |
| November 9 | A Russian military helicopter is shot down near Armenia's border with Nakhchivan. |
| November 9–10 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia agree to a ceasefire statement. |
| November 10 | The ceasefire takes effect; Russian peacekeepers begin deployment. |
| November 20 | Aghdam district is returned to Azerbaijani control. |
| November 25 | Kelbajar district is returned to Azerbaijani control. |
| December 1 | Most of Lachin district is returned to Azerbaijani control, with the corridor arrangement remaining in effect. |