ArmInfo. The exercises of this scale that are being held by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces today could not be carried out without prior preparation and planning. Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia Gabriel Balayan stated this in an interview with reporters.
Without revealing details of whether the Armenian side had intelligence information on preparations for these exercises, the deputy minister stated that one thing is clear, those exercises are conducted without earlier announcement, and they are carried out violating international obligations undertaken by the Azerbaijani side, including to the OSCE. He added that these exercises did not cause any tension either for Armenia or for Artsakh. Balayan also assured that at this stage the Armenian side does not see threats from the exercises conducted by the enemy, but as soon as there is such a threat, all necessary measures will be taken.
Touching upon the situation with the coronavirus pandemic in Azerbaijan, he noted that in order to understand how the situation at the enemy in this matter, it is enough to study the flow of information in social networks. Balayan also recalled that the flow of information from Baku is generally directed to an internal audience. From May 18 to May 22, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces conduct large-scale tactical exercises involving up to 10,000 personnel, about 120 units of tanks and armored vehicles, up to 200 missile and artillery mounts of various calibers, multiple launch rocket systems and mortars, and up to 30 units of army and front-line aviation , as well as unmanned aerial vehicles for various purposes.
During the exercises, questions of combat readiness, planning and comprehensive support of operations, the interaction of command and control agencies of various types of troops will be worked out, as well as fire and maneuverability of the strike groups created under the conditions of the exercises. It envisages the use of troops in selected areas, the introduction of massive strikes by missile forces and artillery, bombing and assault strikes by aviation, as well as the use of precision-guided weapons in service throughout the depth of the operational formation of enemy troops. The Ministry of Defense of Armenia responded to these exercises by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, accusing the latter of violating international obligations, including regarding the preliminary notification of such large-scale exercises. The Armenian side warned Azerbaijan against possible provocations on the state border with Armenia and Artsakh during these exercises, saying that the consequences of such actions were irreversible.