Azerbaijan Celebrates Armed Forces Day with Military Parade

Strategic Insights -

A military parade was held in the city of Khankendi to celebrate Azerbaijan's Armed Forces Day, marking the country's hard-won victory in the 44-day Patriotic War. The parade featured military personnel marching through the city's central streets, accompanied by a military band, and was met with applause and appreciation from the public. The celebration comes as a result of Azerbaijan's liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation, with over 300 villages, towns, and cities, including the cultural capital Shusha, being restored to the country.

Key Takeaways:

  • The military parade was held in Khankendi to celebrate Azerbaijan's Armed Forces Day, Trend reports, on June 26.
  • The parade featured military personnel marching through the city's central streets, accompanied by a military band, and was met with applause and appreciation from the public.
  • The celebration comes in the context of Azerbaijan's hard-won victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, which began on September 27, 2020, in response to provocations by Armenian armed forces.
  • The war resulted in the liberation of Azerbaijani territories that had been under Armenian occupation for nearly 30 years, fully restoring the country's territorial integrity.
  • More than 300 villages, towns, and cities, including the cultural capital Shusha, were liberated by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during the conflict.
  • Nearly 3,000 Azerbaijani servicemen and around 93 civilians lost their lives in the Second Karabakh War, with thousands more injured, including both soldiers and civilians.
  • Three years later, on the night of September 19-20, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a brief but decisive local counter-terrorism operation against separatist and illegal Armenian armed groups in Karabakh, leading to the full restoration of Azerbaijan's sovereignty across its entire territory.
  • The restoration of fuel and energy infrastructure in Azerbaijan's Karabakh and surrounding areas has reduced energy costs for the country's residents and improved their living standards.
  • Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stated that the return of the territories is a significant milestone in the country's development, ensuring peace and stability for its people.

Statistics:

  • 44-day Patriotic War between Azerbaijan and Armenia lasted from September 27, 2020, to November 9, 2020.
  • Over 300 villages, towns, and cities, including the cultural capital Shusha, were liberated by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during the conflict.
  • Nearly 3,000 Azerbaijani servicemen and around 93 civilians lost their lives in the Second Karabakh War.
  • Thousands of people were injured, including both soldiers and civilians.
  • The restoration of fuel and energy infrastructure in Azerbaijan's Karabakh and surrounding areas has reduced energy costs for the country's residents by approximately 30%.
  • Azerbaijan's sovereignty was fully restored across its entire territory after the local counter-terrorism operation on September 19-20, 2023.

Sources:

  • Trend News Agency, "Azerbaijan celebrates Armed Forces Day," June 26, 2025.
  • Public Relations Department of the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service, Khankendi, Aghdara, and Khojaly districts, "Military parade held in Khankendi," June 26, 2025.
  • TASS, "Azerbaijan restores full control over Karabakh and surrounding areas," September 20, 2023.