The Battle of Shushi: The Decisive Turning Point

23. Shushi Before the War

Shushi, known as Shusha in Azerbaijani, occupies a prominent position on high ground above Stepanakert.

Its geography made it one of the most strategically important settlements in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The city is surrounded by steep slopes, cliffs, ravines, and difficult approaches.

Historically, Shushi had been an important cultural center for both Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

For Armenians, the city was associated with churches, schools, publishing, music, and the historical Armenian community.

For Azerbaijanis, Shusha held exceptional significance as a center of Azerbaijani literature, music, and national culture.

The city had been captured by Armenian forces in May 1992 during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Its recapture became one of Azerbaijan's principal military and symbolic objectives in 2020.

24. Why Shushi Was Militarily Important

Shushi overlooked important roads and approaches to Stepanakert.

Its location provided advantages for observation and the control of surrounding terrain.

A force occupying Shushi could threaten communications and movement through parts of the region.

The city was also close to Stepanakert, the principal administrative and population center of the self-declared Republic of Artsakh.

Consequently, the loss of Shushi would significantly weaken the Armenian military position.

Its capture would also provide Azerbaijan with a major political victory.

25. Azerbaijani Approaches to the City

By late October and early November, Azerbaijani forces had advanced through southern Nagorno-Karabakh and reached mountainous terrain near Shushi.

The operation required movement through difficult forests, ravines, and steep slopes.

Azerbaijani special operations forces and light infantry played important roles in the advance.

Rather than relying exclusively on armored assaults along major roads, Azerbaijani units maneuvered through terrain that complicated Armenian observation and defensive planning.

This approach reduced some of the advantages traditionally enjoyed by defenders occupying high ground.

The Azerbaijani military also continued using artillery, drones, and reconnaissance systems to support its ground forces.

26. The Fighting of November 6–9

Intense fighting occurred in and around Shushi during the final days of the war.

Azerbaijani units entered the city's approaches and engaged Armenian defenders in close combat.

The fighting involved infantry, small arms, mortars, artillery, and other weapons.

Armenian forces attempted to prevent the city from falling and conducted counterattacks.

The urban and mountainous terrain made the fighting particularly difficult.

Accounts differ on individual tactical movements, the exact timing of the city's fall, and the extent of losses suffered by the opposing forces.

Azerbaijan announced the capture of Shusha on November 8, and subsequent events confirmed Azerbaijani control.

A later military study published by the Canadian Army examined the battle as an example of how specialized infantry, maneuver through difficult terrain, and modern reconnaissance could overcome a strongly defended position.

27. The Fall of Shushi

The loss of Shushi was one of the most important events of the entire war.

It undermined the Armenian defensive position around Stepanakert.

It also placed the principal Armenian-controlled population center under more immediate military threat.

The Armenian side faced the possibility of further territorial losses and additional casualties if the war continued.

For Azerbaijan, the capture of Shusha was both a strategic military success and a major national symbol.

President Aliyev publicly celebrated the city's recapture.

For Armenians, the loss carried profound emotional significance because of the city's religious monuments, cultural heritage, and place in Armenian history.

28. The Bombing of Ghazanchetsots Cathedral

During the war, the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi was struck on October 8, 2020.

The cathedral is one of the most recognizable Armenian religious monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Two strikes occurred on the same day, and journalists present at the site were injured during the second.

The attacks caused significant damage to the cathedral.

Armenian officials and human rights advocates condemned the strikes and argued that they raised serious questions about the protection of cultural and religious heritage during the conflict.

Azerbaijan denied deliberately targeting the church.

The incident became an important symbol of Armenian concerns about the future of religious and cultural monuments under Azerbaijani control.

International humanitarian law protects religious buildings and cultural property, subject to narrowly defined exceptions concerning military use and necessity.

The damage to Ghazanchetsots became part of the broader international discussion about cultural heritage protection in Nagorno-Karabakh.